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http://nznews.net.nz/hardnews/1997/19971121.html
Russell Brown's HARD NEWS
November 21, 1997
The bizarre and deeply compromised prosecution in the Christchurch civic
childcare centre abuse case fell apart after the four women creche workers
charged alongside Ellis got to court, their lives already ruined. Logically,
its should have stopped there. But it was just a little bit easier to make it
stick to Ellis because he was a little bit strange, he was gay. I really
believe that and it's been my feeling for a while.
Melanie Reid's excellent 20/20 investigation didn't present all that much
which was new about the case, just placed all the doubt where we could see
it. We now know that the cop who drove the investigation, Detective Colin
Eade, was not only psychologically unwell, but that he sexually harassed one
of the creche mothers and then went on to have sexual relationships with no
fewer than three women involved in the case.
He also appears to have put quite inappropriate pressure on creche parents
who had bad feelings about the whole thing and didn't wish to proceed. The
guy's a disaster, frankly.
But what I find really incredible is the way, as part of the prosecution, he
selected evidence to support the case. A credible statement from a child
would be included, the absurd fantasy in the next breath culled out.
There needs to be a serious investigation of the whole thing, not just of the
various crazy people involved - and, my, weren't there a few of those - but
of the role of Social Welfare. Why did we as taxpayers fund private lectures
by an American self-styled specialist in so-called "satanic abuse"?
How many Social Welfare staff heard this stuff? Do they still believe it?
Where are they now?
I think the cops, Social Welfare and all know something went really wrong
here.
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