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Allegations convicted child abuser
Peter Ellis has been allowed to wear dresses in Rolleston Prison have been
rubbished by his supporters. Winston Wealleans, who maintains
Ellis is innocent of the charges of child abuse at the Christchurch Civic
Childcare Centre, has said the allegations made in the Sunday-Star Times were
malicious nonsense. "I visit Peter every week
along with many other people and none of us have ever seen him wear a frock.
It's utter rubbish," he said. Ellis would be telling prison
authorities he was prepared to waive privacy considerations so they could
confirm or deny allegations. Prison officers would know if Ellis dressed in
frocks and those he had spoken to said it was "bullshit". Ellis has made no secret he was a
homosexual but did not dress in women's clothes, Mr Wealleans said. The assistant general manager of
the Prison Service, Bryan McMurray, would not comment directly on whether
inmates were allowed to wear dresses or on what Ellis wore in prison. The department's interest in an
inmate's recreational clothing was confined to ensuring it did not interfere
with providing a safe and secure environment, he said. There had been no
problems at the prison relating to inmates' clothing, he said. Ellis is serving a 10-year jail
term at Rolleston Prison and is due for release early next year. A second
appeal was dismissed last month, and he awaits a decision on whether a Royal
Commission of Inquiry will be set up. |
