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Convicted child abuser Peter Ellis
might be forced into accepting freedom with parole conditions attached, Professor Young said Ellis,
convicted on 13 child abuse charges, would have no choice but to leave prison
when he finished serving two-thirds of his 10-year sentence next February if
he was not freed before then. Maintaining his innocence has
already cost Ellis two chances of early parole, the latest being earlier this
month. At the hearing, Ellis said he
could not accept any parole because the Parole Board could "only release
me as a guilty man". "I am a human being and, of
course, I very much want my freedom, but I cannot accept it if it is to be
given on the basis that I am a guilty man." A petition calling for Ellis to be
pardoned is being examined by Justice Sir Thomas Thorpe, of the High Court,
at the request of the Governor-General, Sir Michael Hardie Boys. Ellis is to
appear before the Parole Board for the final time in December before being
freed in February. Professor Young said Ellis would
have no choice but to accept the Parole Board conditions at that point. "All the current debate would
become irrelevant because the conditions being imposed on him are
automatic." He did not have to acknowledge
guilt because he had no choice but to leave prison, Professor Young said. "It's not parole, it's a
final release date subject to conditions set by the Parole Board." Once freed, it was likely Ellis
would have to report to a probation officer and could also have terms
attached in relation to where he lived and who he associated with, Professor
Young said. "If they breach conditions,
an application goes before the Parole Board for them to be recalled to serve
the remainder of their sentence." A Corrections Department
spokeswoman said yesterday it was impossible for inmates to stay in prison
after serving two-thirds of their sentence unless there were
"exceptional circumstances". |
