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Otago Daily Times
Saturday,
19-December 1998
Appeal court refuses Ellis' bail bid
NZPA
Wellington: Convicted child
molester Peter Ellis would not be allowed out of jail for Christmas, the
Court of Appeal decided yesterday.
Giving the court's decision to refuse Ellis bail until a further appeal is
made, Justice Henry said Ellis, convicted of molesting children at the
Christchurch Civic Creche nine years ago, was already eligible for parole.
But Ellis had declined to accept parole on the grounds that its conditions
would imply his acceptance of guilt, which he had always denied.
It could not be assessed if Ellis' attitude was reasonable, and it could well
be that bail conditions the court set would be the same as parole, Justice
Henry said.
A preliminary assessment did not show Ellis' appeal was certain of success,
and the court was not persuaded granting bail would be in the interests of
justice.
The hearing of Ellis' appeal has been set down for May 31.
The final date for his release from jail if his appeal fails is February
2000.
Lawyer Judith Ablett-Kerr said Ellis had told her he would not change his
stance on declining to seek parole.
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