"OTAGO DAILY TIMES"
Dunedin, New Zealand.
Wednesday, 12 December 2001.
Page 12.
OPINION
Peter Ellis
THE
WILFULLY blinkered attitude of Minister of Justice Phil Goff is well
illustrated by his letter (8.12.01). The arguments with which he attempts to
dismiss Lynley Hood's dispassionate examination of the facts surrounding Peter
Ellis' case would immediately be dealt with by reading the book; but even in
the face of considered opinions from many stalwarts of the legal community, he
refused to bother. The rights and possible wrongs of this one specific case are
only part of the greater issue, which is that the all too apparent failures of
the justice system must be addressed. Without assessing Ms Hood's findings for
himself, Mr Goff's position is untenable.
That
the man at the pinnacle of our justice system will refuse even to view such a
meticulously researched and impartial criticism of its procedures must dismay
us all.
E.A. McRae
East
Taieri