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The
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Convicted
childcare worker Peter Ellis will get another chance at freedom next month
when the parole board meets for the second time to consider his case. However,
whether the 40-year-old will appear before the board remains in doubt as he
is still awaiting a rare second Last
year Ellis, who still maintains his innocence, refused to appear before the
parole board because he would not accept an early release from prison if it
meant making an admission of guilt. Ellis,
a former Civic Creche worker, is serving the sixth
year of a 10-year sentence on charges of sexually abusing children in his
care. Four
female workers at the creche were also arrested on
sexual abuse charges but were later acquitted. Ellis was found guilty on 13
of the 25 counts of sexual abuse. Christchurch
MP Ron Mark this week added his voice to criticism of the Government's
handling of the case. He is
calling on Justice Minister Tony Ryall to expedite
the processing of a petition seeking a royal pardon for Ellis from the
governor general. "The
country has watched for years what has happened in the Peter Ellis case and I
think that in the light of recent evidence and questioning of the
investigative procedures, most people now feel that he wasn't given a fair
trial. "Peter
Ellis, his counsel and the public deserve to know the governor general's
decision - before the parole board hearing in two weeks," Mr Mark said. |
