"OTAGO DAILY TIMES"

Dunedin, New Zealand.

Wednesday, 12 December 2001.

Page 12.

OPINION

LETTERS to the EDITOR

Courage needed to address Ellis issues

JUSTICE MINISTER Phil Goff (8.12.01) has misrepresented my position. I am not an advocate for anyone involved in the Christchurch Civic Creche case. Mr Goff is being poorly advised. Since A City Possessed was published, many eminent legal authorities have confirmed that my legal analysis is correct; I have identified serious problems in the justice system which the Government must address. Mr Goff's attempts to bury these problems are making the Government and the justice system look ridiculous.

Mr Goff is wrong. The Minister of Justice does not need the judiciary's permission before he can instruct the Governor-General to pardon Peter Ellis and establish a commission of inquiry. If the royal pardon is to serve its proper function as a constitutional safeguard against judicial mistakes, the minister must find the moral courage and political will to act when it is obvious that the judiciary has made a serious mistake.

Lynley Hood

Kew