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The
Christchurch Civic Creche Case |
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The former
policeman who was at the centre of the Despite
admitting a relationship with one victim's mother, and propositioning
another, former The report,
ordered by Police Commissioner Peter Doone, said Mr Eade was not suffering
psychological problems during the 1992 investigation into abuse allegations
at the Christchurch Civic Crèche. Peter Ellis
was sentenced to 10 years jail for abusing children between 1986 and 1992.
His case has been referred back to the Court of Appeal by the
Governor-General. His mother, Lesley, described the findings as "a
whitewash". "It's
like the rest of the case. I talked to Peter today, and we are not getting
justice." Last year a
television documentary on cast doubt on Mr Eade's mental fitness during the
investigation. Mr Doone
directed the review to explore: * Mr Eade's
role in the investigation. * His
relationships with people directly associated with the investigation. *
Circumstances surrounding a phone call to the mother of one of the children
involved in the investigation. * The
relationship Mr Eade formed with the mothers of two children attending the
crèche. * Any matters
which could have affected Mr Eade's ability to fulfil his role, including his
psychological condition. * Any aspects
of Mr Eade's actions that could have affected the reliability of evidence or
contributed to an injustice. The report was
carried out by Detective Superintendent Jim Millar. Mr Millar
writes: "Undoubtedly Mr Eade suffered from stress as a consequence of
his involvement in this protracted, difficult and controversial
investigation." But Mr Millar
says Mr Eade's judgment "was not impaired in any significant way". "It is
possible that the stress he was suffering manifested itself in a number of
ways," he says, including his inappropriate comments to the mother of
one of the victims. Mr Millar said
Mr Eade was supervised at all times "with the possible exception of
January 1992". "In
respect of his personal association with (victims' mothers) B, C and D, these
were social contacts he made long after the investigation . . . each strongly
denies that there was impropriety on the part of the detective. While comments
made to mother A had been inappropriate, Mr Millar said Mr Eade had been off
duty and had been drinking. Mr Eade is understood to have asked the woman out
after the investigation was over. Mr Millar said
the woman saw Mr Eade's unwanted invitation as an illustration of him not
functioning properly. "I feel the nature of the indiscretion was minor and does not
amount to any incidence of psychological incompetence . . . I believe Mr Eade
was not psychologically incompetent enough to consider that he should be
removed from that inquiry or would have been liable to make errors of
judgment." |
