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Convicted sex offender Peter
Ellis's continued insistence on his innocence has cost him his latest chance
of parole. Ellis, 40, is serving a 10-year
jail term for abusing children at the Civic Childcare Centre. Refusing to
acknowledge guilt in front of the Parole Board cost him his first chance of
freedom when he became eligible for release in February last year. After deferring the issue for a
year, the board reconsidered parole for Ellis last week. In its decision,
released yesterday, the board said it was bound to accept the verdict of the
court and quoted Ellis's declaration of innocence before it, which it said left
"no option but to decline parole". Ellis will have his freedom by
next February. The board said he must be freed
after serving two-thirds of the sentence, and it will consider his case again
in December to decide what conditions accompany his release. Ellis's counsel at the hearing,
Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC, said she had discussed the "entirely
predictable" decision with him. "Mr Ellis maintains his
innocence and knew the consequences of the stand he took. He has maintained
his innocence since day one and will continue to do so. The prospect of
freedom bought at the price of compromise was never acceptable to him,"
Mrs Ablett-Kerr said. "Peter Ellis is not feeling sorry for himself
today, but his thoughts are with his mother and her position." Lesley Ellis said the decision was
disgusting. Her son was a model prisoner and the board had "no reason
whatsoever" for refusing parole. The family is pursuing Ellis's claim of
innocence through the Court of Appeal, which is due to hear the case in May,
and in a petition to the Governor-General. |
