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Otago Daily Times
Saturday, 18-December 1999
Special parole conditions set for Peter Ellis' release
NZPA
Wellington:
Convicted child abuser Peter Ellis has been set special conditions for the
first year after his release next February.
The Parole Board says the conditions were aimed at protecting the public or
any person who might be affected by Ellis' release and to help his
rehabilitation and welfare.
The special terms were to live at a specified address, not to contact the
victims or their families without the written consent of his probation
officer, and not to do any paid or voluntary work without the officer's
approval.
Ellis (40) is due for release when he has served two-thirds of his 10-year
sentence on February 2.
He was jailed in 1993 after a Christchurch
jury accepted numerous allegations of child abuse made against him during the
time he worked at Christchurch Civic Creche.
Ellis has continued to say he is innocent. Appeals have failed to overturn
his convictions but Ellis and his supporters are still seeking a royal
commission of inquiry into his case and a pardon from the Governor-General.
Ellis has said through his lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, that he would not
sign release documents if they implied he was properly convicted. It is not
clear what affect Ellis' intention will have.
The Parole Board says it will not discuss details of the parole decision on
any inmate.
"The parole process aims to ensure that an offender's reintegration to
the community is a planned process, under supervision, with support and
parole conditions to minimise any risk of future offending," a statement
from the board said.
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