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The Press
March 11, 2000
Ellis probe may alter use of child evidence
by Elinore Wellwood
An inquiry that could lead to a pardon for convicted pedophile Peter Ellis
could also change the controversial way children's evidence is used in New
Zealand sex trials.
The ministerial inquiry announced yesterday comes after a rare second Court
of Appeal hearing for Mr Ellis and his three petitions for a pardon.
Mr Ellis is living with his mother, Lesley Ellis, in Christchurch after refusing parole and
serving a seven-year jail sentence for 13 convictions on child-abuse charges
at the Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre.
Mrs Ellis said yesterday a pardon would not be enough. She wanted a statement
that made it clear the events for which he was convicted never happened.
Justice Minister Phil Goff said yesterday he hoped the inquiry would mean an
end to the case. "I doubt in many respects whether there will ever be a
finality in terms of a consensus of public opinion on the innocence or guilt
of Mr Ellis."
He chose the faster, cheaper ministerial inquiry instead of a royal
commission because it would mean less stress on the children involved. They
will not be questioned.
Former chief justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum would focus on the children's
evidence, Mr Goff said. Sir Thomas would recommend whether a pardon should be
granted to Mr Ellis, if he decided the way the evidence was gathered was
unsafe.
Mr Ellis' lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr, said she was unhappy the inquiry would
be narrower than the royal commission she asked for.
Important evidence would be excluded, such as police reports, original
reports relating to police, and later information concerning a detective.
Waikato University senior law lecturer and
child advocate Wendy Ball said she was pleased the inquiry would sort out
controversies over the way children's evidence was used in courts. Ms Ball
said she spoke yesterday to tired parents and emotional children involved in
the Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre case.
"This is the sixth or seventh bite he's had of the cherry," she
said. They just wanted to see the end of the matter.
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