|
|
The
|
|
Convicted
paedophile Peter Ellis' bid for a pardon has failed. Justice Minister Phil
Goff says the Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys has declined Mr Ellis'
application. The announcement follows the release of the findings of a
ministerial inquiry into the Ellis case, which sought to examine whether
evidence from children at the centre of the Civic Creche case, was sound.
Peter Ellis was seeking a pardon if the inquiry found that the children's
evidence was unreliable. Mr Goff says the head of the inquiry, retired Chief
Justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum and two international experts all found that
the technique used to interview the children was appropriate. He says he is
confident the inquiry dealt with all of the issues which warranted further
investigation. Phil Goff says the Ellis case has now had the most thorough
examination possible. (Then
we need to reconsider what is "possible". On what I have read in the news and heard
on the radio, I think that this review was thorough and competent within the
arcane framework defined in the law. On the other hand, I don't think the
process uncovered the truth. For the record: I do not believe any abuse ever
occurred at the |
