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A fresh complaint has been laid
against convicted sex abuser Peter Ellis by a Police last night refused to
comment on allegations that a 17 to 18-year-old boy had made a "fresh
disclosure" about actions dating back to the time the former
Christchurch crèche worker was accused of interfering with children in his
care. Ellis was found guilty of 16
charges of sexual abuse in 1993 and sentenced to 10 years in jail. TV One said last night that it
understood the complaint had been referred to the Crown Law Office. The report said Ellis knew of the
disclosure but would not comment. But a spokeswoman for Ellis'
lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC, said neither she nor her client knew anything
about the allegations and could not comment further. The revelation came on the day
Ellis learned his plea for a pardon had been turned down by the
Governor-General. Justice Minister Phil Goff said
yesterday that a ministerial inquiry by former Chief Justice Sir Thomas
Eichelbaum had found Ellis' case failed by a "distinct margin" to
prove his conviction was "unsafe." Mr Goff said that the inquiry's
conclusions were clear cut. It found police and social workers
had followed international best practice in handling the case and declared
evidence given by the children involved to be reliable. The decision is considered the end
of the road for Ellis, who has been through a trial, two previous petitions
for a pardon and two hearings before the Court of Appeal. Mrs Ablett-Kerr said she still had
the Privy Council and Court of Human Rights in But Mr Goff said it would be very
difficult for Ellis to take it further. He said the inquiry, which cost
$500,000, was comprehensive. "Mr Ellis could apply to the
Privy Council but that would need the approval of the Court of Appeal. I
don't believe that would be a step he would take," he said. Ellis spent 6 1/2 years in prison
but has steadfastly maintained his innocence. He was released in February
last year after refusing early parole because it would have required him to
admit guilt. A downcast Ellis yesterday vowed
to fight on to clear his name. "I am an innocent man and
walking away from the Civic Crèche case because it is convenient leaves me
still a guilty man. Justice is not about convenience, it is about looking at
the whole picture and fairness." He said his case had become a
world phenomenon and deserved a wide-ranging inquiry such as in similar
mass-abuse cases in But Sir Thomas said it was time
Ellis' case "be allowed to rest." Mrs Ablett-Kerr said Sir Thomas'
report was "disappointing." She would ask Mr Goff to accept
the inquiry was too narrow and to order a wider investigation. Much of the latter part of her
work for Ellis had been done without payment but "at the end of the day
I don't suppose you walk away because there's not money in it." |
