NZOOM - ONE News – National

Published on Sep 28, 2001

Creche case back in public arena

The Christchurch Civic Creche case is about to come under new scrutiny in a book being launched on Monday.

And people who have read the proof of the book say it is set to reopen old wounds.

The launch comes at a time when police are close to deciding whether to proceed with a new charge against convicted paedophile Peter Ellis.

Ellis went to jail for 10 years after being convicted of abusing children at the creche.

His 1993 conviction polarised the Christchurch community. Auckland academic Alison Jones believes the book - A City Possessed - is set to reopen old wounds.

"I don't think anyone who reads it will be left believing Ellis guilty," Jones said.

The book is a very long read and took respected author Lynley Hood seven years to write.

For much of that time Ellis was behind bars for a crime which, in spite of failed appeals, he still says he did not commit. A City Possessed chronicles events leading to Ellis' trial and subsequent legal battle to clear his name.

The government-ordered Thomas Eichelbaum inquiry said the case has had the most thorough examination possible and should now be laid to rest.

However, Jones - an author of her own book on child abuse - is convinced Hood proves a miscarriage of justice. Jones says Hood makes it very clear the Ellis case was not the product of his abusive behaviour, but the product of anxiety circulating at that time.

Meanwhile, police have confirmed they are close to making a decision on a fresh allegation of indecent assault against Ellis. The accusation dates back to the time of the original complaints and was made by a young man - now almost 20. Former police officer Mark Bouvet said he was happy with the plausibility of the complainant.

"I spent a lot of time with him and am satisfied the matter warranted further investigation," Bouvet said.

Police now have an opinion from the Crown Law Office on the complaint and have told One News that they have not ruled out laying a new charge against Ellis, but are weighing up whether it would be in the public interest to proceed with another prosecution.

Police say they are also investigating the role of a second person in connection to the complaint. They say it will be three weeks before they are in a position to make any decisions.

Ellis, who was paroled last year after serving seven years in jail, declined to comment.