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Waikato Times
February 2, 2000
Ellis freed - mother appeals to parents
NZPA
Convicted Christchurch paedophile Peter Ellis walked
out of a side door of Paparua Prison today, avoiding waiting reporters and
photographers at the main gate of the prison where he has spent more than six
years.
Ellis, 41, was convicted in 1993 on 16 charges of sexually abusing seven
children in his care at Christchurch Civic Creche.
He has consistently maintained his innocence, refusing to be released on
parole in case it harmed legal efforts to clear his name.
His release today is automatic after serving two-thirds of his 10-year
sentence.
As he walked from Paparua, his mother Lesley, who has battled to clear her
son's name, called on the parents of children involved in the case to back
her calls for a royal commission of inquiry.
But, at the same time, Children's Commissioner Roger McClay urged people to
remember that Ellis' crimes would cloud his victims forever.
Mr McClay said several parents had asked him to speak out as the victims
would find Ellis' release difficult.
"This is almost a repeat of the turmoil and the trauma the children
would have been through during the trial and afterwards and we can't change
that, but I just say to New
Zealand, think of victims too, because
they've got the rest of their lives to get on with," Mr McClay said.
"As a society we must ensure that these children's rights to safety,
privacy and freedom from further physical, sexual and emotional abuse are
upheld."
Ellis supporter Winston Wealleans said Mr McClay's predecessors had
intensified the hysteria surrounding the case by releasing emotive documents
early in the investigation.
"There was satanic ritual abuse material which originated from the
commissioner's office that was very crucial material which contributed to the
allegations of satanic ritual abuse," he said.
Ellis' case and conviction polarised opinion and raised questions about the
way young children were interviewed and the impartiality of the trial jury.
Waikato Criminal Bar Association head Roger Laybourn today said most people
in the legal profession believed the case was dubious. He believed there were
similarities between Ellis' case and that of former Hamilton schoolteacher John Edgar,
acquitted in April 1998 on eight counts of indecency.
Ellis' lawyer Judith Ablett Kerr
QC said adjustment outside jail
would not be easy for her client.
Ellis plans to live with his mother who hopes a job for him will be finalised
soon.
Ellis has failed to have his convictions overturned despite two applications
to the Governor-General and a second hearing in the Court of Appeal late last
year.
A third petition was lodged with the Governor-General for a pardon and a
royal commission of inquiry into the case after the latest court decision.
Mrs Ablett Kerr QC said a commission of inquiry could consider evidence that
the Court of Appeal rejected as outside its powers.
Meanwhile, the Government says it is considering an inquiry into difficulties
with evidence used in the Ellis case.
Justice Minister Phil Goff said today he was waiting for advice from the
Justice Ministry on what form the inquiry should take.
Mr Goff said it was not appropriate "at the moment" for the
Government to consider a pardon for Ellis, as the Court of Appeal had twice
concluded there was no miscarriage of justice. -- Times staff, NZPA
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Caption:
Free Man: convicted paedophile
Peter Ellis, who left prison today. He has fought to overturn his conviction
for 6 1/2 years.
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