The Christchurch Civic Creche Case
	News Reports - Home 1998 Index
	The Press December 18 1998 Ellis to hear about freedom Peter Ellis could hear today if he will be free from jail on bail for Christmas. Ellis is serving his sixth year of a seven-year jail sentence on convictions of abusing children at the Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre where he worked. A decision on his bail application, made yesterday at the Appeal Court in Wellington, was to be released today or early next week. Lawyer Judith Ablett-Kerr is applying for Ellis's bail before an Appeal Court hearing on May 31. Ellis's defence team is still waiting for an answer to a three-part petition, which has been with Justice Minister Doug Graham since November 16. The petition asked to widen the Appeal Court hearing's terms of reference, for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the case, and for a free pardon for Ellis.