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Otago Daily Times
December 17 1998
Bail sought for Ellis today
NZPA
Christchurch: The lawyer acting for convicted
child abuser Peter Ellis is seeking bail for him for the second time this
year.
Ellis has always maintained his innocence of the 13 convictions of child
abuse at the Christchurch Civic Creche for which he was jailed more than five
years ago.
Lawyer Judith Ablett-Kerr confirmed yesterday she would apply for his bail
today at the Appeal Court
in Wellington
ahead of a new Appeal Court
hearing.
Ellis could be released today if the Appeal Court judges grant bail.
In late March, Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys referred Ellis' case
back to the Appeal Court
for the second time.
Mrs Ablett-Kerr's last bail application, in June, was turned down after a
hearing from which the public was barred.
But judges said then she could make a second bail application if the terms of
reference of the pending Appeal
Court case changed.
Mrs Ablett-Kerr said then she wanted to widen the pending hearing's terms of
reference. She also sought a pardon for Ellis in a petition that introduced
new, highly sensitive information, and which in addition asked for a Royal
Commission of Inquiry into the entire Christchurch
civic creche investigation.
She declined to comment yesterday.
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