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Convicted
child sex abuser Peter Ellis has lost what may be his final bid for a pardon.
Justice
Minister Phil Goff declined the third application for a pardon after a
Ministerial Inquiry by the former Chief Justice, Sir Thomas Eichelbaum, which
lasted almost a year. Ellis, 41, was released from prison last year after
serving more than six years of a 10 year sentence after being found guilty on
13 charges in 1993 of sexually abusing children in his care at the
Christchurch Civic Creche. The
Court of Appeal has twice found there was no miscarriage of justice in his
trial. Sir
Thomas Eichelbaum's 200-page report says Ellis failed to prove his
convictions were unsafe. The
inquiry focused on whether the way evidence gathered to convict Ellis was
obtained in a sound manner. Sir
Thomas examined the police interviewing techniques used with children in the
case and the possible contamination of evidence. Ellis
has always maintained his innocence. He was released from jail in February
2000. The
Court of Appeal had said some matters, such as the reliability of the
children's evidence, might be better dealt with by an inquiry. Goff
says he has advised the Governor General that the application for a pardon be
declined and the Governor General has accepted that advice. Goff
says he believes it would be difficult for Ellis to take the case further. |
