The Christchurch Civic Creche Case
	News Reports Index
	1999 Jan-June
	The Evening Post April 29 1999 Contempt risk over Ellis juror claims by Megan Lane Author Lynley Hood could be in contempt of court for interviewing a member of the jury that convicted Christchurch childcare worker Peter Ellis. It was reported today that in an interview with Ms Hood one of the jurors allegedly claimed he was sexually aroused by evidence in the 1993 trial and had professional links with the expert psychiatrist called by the prosecution. Ms Hood, biographer of Minnie Dean - the baby killer who is the only woman to have been hanged in this country - was working on a book about Ellis. Ellis' lawyer, Judith Ablett Kerr, reportedly heard of the juror's claims and had raised concerns about his conduct with the Justice Ministry. It is illegal for media to approach jurors for comment about a trial, or to publish information obtained from an interview with a juror. It isn't known whether Ms Hood or the juror initiated the interview. Ms Hood could not be contacted. Victoria University law professor Warren Young said: "There's a general provision that these sort of interviews with jurors about particular identifiable trials with the purpose of disclosing the content of jury deliberations, or an individual juror's view of those deliberations, or the verdict without the consent of the judge, may be in contempt of court." If the media - including book authors - interviewed jury members, it could undermine public confidence in the jury process, he said. The Evening Post April 29 1999 Author may be in contempt by Megan Lane Author Lynley Hood could be in contempt of court for interviewing a member of the jury that convicted Christchurch childcare worker Peter Ellis. It was reported today that in an interview with Ms Hood one of the jurors allegedly claimed he was sexually aroused by evidence in the 1993 trial and had professional links with the expert psychiatrist called by the prosecution. Ms Hood, Minnie Dean's biographer, was working on a book about Ellis. Ellis's lawyer Judith Ablett Kerr reportedly heard of the juror's claims and had raised concerns about his conduct with the Justice Ministry. It is illegal for media to approach jurors for comment about a trial, or to publish information obtained from an interview with a juror. It isn't known whether Ms Hood or the juror initiated the interview. Ms Hood couldn't be reached for comment. Victoria University's law professor Warren Young said he wouldn't give a legal opinion on whether the revelations amounted to contempt of court. "There's a general provision that these sort of interviews with jurors about particular identifiable trials with the purpose of disclosing the content of jury deliberations, or an individual juror's view of those deliberations, or the verdict without the consent of the judge, may be in contempt of court." Dr Young said if the media - including book authors - interviewed jury members, that could undermine public confidence in the jury process.