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Last updated March 19 2005
2001-0614 - Otago Daily Times - 'No touching' may
create more problems than solutions
by
Warren Palmer Hood traces some of the history leading up to the case.
Prominent in this history is the development of feminist groups from the
early 1970s. She relates how "initially, women's liberation was for all
women, and for men as well", but, by the late 1970s, men had become
"demonised" in a stereotyping process similar to the witch-hunts
which pervaded early American society. Hood likens the 1970s slogan,
"All men are rapists", to the 1486 claim by a group of American
priests that "All witchcraft is caused by carnal lust which is, in
women, insatiable". Both are examples of stereotyping by gender, and
both became accepted as "orthodoxy" (or "dogma") by a
proportion of society
2001-0515 - Usenet - Opinion
on evidence
by Patrick Ford “the evidence that convicted him was based on
deliberate lies and fabrication by adults, unintentional lies and fabrication
by children, and the deliberate concealment and suppression of evidence that
would have harmed the prosecution case
2001-0418 - Evening Post - Did
law lords get it wrong?
Letter to the Editor by Peter Watson - Can we be
assured that if we do eventually discard the Privy Council we will continue
to receive a reasonable standard of justice? I would like to think so and
that the New Zealand courts are up to the job. Unfortunately, when the Privy
Council finds differently, as with the Valentine's case, I have to wonder not
only about our courts but those who would make them the sole dispensers of
justice in this country. I am sure Arthur Allan Thomas and Peter Ellis, to
name but two, might have similar views about the wisdom of such a move.
2001-0417 - Otago Daily Times - 'Teacher touching'
issues explored
NZPA
- Public anxiety about sexual abuse has changed the relationship between
children and teachers in New Zealand, a new book says. Touchy Subject:
Teachers Touching Children is a collection of opinions from educationalists
from New Zealand, Samoa, Australia, Britain and the United States. The book's
publishers, University of Otago Press, said the book asked questions such as
whether New Zealand had gone overboard with the "hands-off"
approach to touching students, and whether men were being put off teaching
2001-0412 - Dominion -
Sex abuse fears change education - book
NZPA - Public anxiety about sexual abuse has
changed the relationship between children and teachers in New Zealand, a book
being published this month says. ………Two contributors, Sarah-Eve Farquahar and
Richard Johnson, say men are avoiding working in early childhood education. A
chapter by Lynley Hood says the Peter Ellis case arose out of three 1980s
movements, radical feminism, religious conservatism and child protection.
2001-0408 - Sunday Star Times -
Playing it safe
by
Sarah Catherall - Two former teachers convicted last week of sexually
molesting their pupils has reignited the debate about how to keep children
safe in school…….But Jones says the relationship between teachers and young
pupils has become over-regulated--a point backed by Langley, who says
authorities naturally reacted to the civic crèche case by writing new rules.
"We are dripping with regulations and it's debatable whether that has
led to long-term solutions for anyone," he says, arguing that a planned
code of ethics should lead to more realistic guidelines for teachers.
2001-0401 - Sunday Star
Times - Sex Experts
Letter to the Editor by Gordon Waugh – Congratulations for having the
courage to publish an extract from Lynley Hood's refreshing, accurate and
concise essay on the Peter Ellis case (March 25), exposing the nonsense
leading to his conviction. She correctly noted that alleged experts who claim
an ability to distinguish between true and false allegations of sexual abuse
can do nothing of the sort
2001-0401 - Sunday Star
Times - Pay Back Time
Letter to the Editor by C L Coe - Having read the excellent article by
Lynley Hood on the Peter Ellis case, I am more convinced than ever that he is
innocent
2001-0401 - Sunday
Star Times - Frank reply
Letter to the Editor by Iain Mitchell - Paedophiles are excellent
manipulators, they groom their environment until it is primed and ready.
Haden and others can consider themselves well and truly groomed
2001-0331 - Suburban
Newspapers - Let right be done
by Gordon Waugh Congratulations to Pat Booth for his insight into
the Peter Ellis case (March 27). Concerns about Ellis' conviction will not
abate until all the facts are made known. The Ministerial Inquiry did nothing
to expose or examine those facts. Some will argue that the two
"pre-eminent international experts" hired by the Inquiry have given
reliable, expert advice on the testimony of the children, and that should be
the end of the matter. Ellis was not convicted on testable medical, forensic,
physical or documentary evidence. The case turned on the assumptions, beliefs
and opinions of self-appointed "experts" and their interpretation
of the behaviour of young children
2001-0327 - North
Shore Times - Shouldn't juries have all the facts
Children,
who were interviewed and whose answers to questions were the basis for the
case against him, told of just those fantasy events while the everyday life
of the crèche went on around them - children slung in cages from the roof,
having their private parts cut off, having sticks and needles inserted into
their bottoms, being taken into the ceiling and on to the roof. as well as
ritual killings and naked sex orgies, coffins and exhumations of Christ.
There was even suggestion of a tunnel from a leading Christchurch hotel said
to have been used by tourists to reach the crèche and abuse children. But
that "evidence" was never shared with the jury. They heard only a
sanitised version, stripped of obvious fantasies which would have raised such
telling doubt about the edited evidence Peter Ellis has so consistently and
strenuously denied.
2001-0325 - Sunday Star
Times - Letter to the Editor
by Andrew Johnson – (re) Frank Haden's column on the issue (March 18).
Never have I seen this case summed up for what it has been in such a
watertight fashion.
2001-0325
- Usenet - Problems with Lynley Hoods book
by Craig Young I have some grave misgivings about Lynley Hood's
book on Christchurch during the Peter Ellis controversy if her Sunday
Star-Times article is anything to go by
2001-0325
- Usenet - Discussion on Lynley Hoods SST article
by Megan Pledger - I read the article but came away feeling that it
was all very shallow. The groups and their motivations were analysed on a
very facile level, huge generalisations were made, very few of which rang
true to me
2001-0325 - Sunday Star
Times - Touchy Subject
by Lynley Hood; “after years
of dredging through the mire in which the story had foundered, I found no
evidence of illegality by anyone accused in this case. Instead, I found
convincing evidence that more than 100 Christchurch children had been
subjected to unpleasant and psychologically hazardous procedures for no good
reason, and that a group of capable and caring adults with no inclinations
towards sexual misconduct with children had had their lives ruined as a
result.
2001-0324 - Otago Daily Times - Excerpt from Report
by
Karen Howard - As governor-general, Sir Michael has had the unenviable task
of considering applications from convicted criminals seeking royal pardons.
Cases which have come before him include those of convicted paedophile Peter
Ellis and David Bain, convicted of murdering his family
2001-0322 - Nelson
Mail - From private to public figure
Karen
Howard, NZPA - As governor-general Sir Michael has had the unenviable task of
considering applications from convicted criminals seeking royal pardons.
Cases which have come before him include those of convicted paedophile Peter
Ellis and David Bain, convicted of murdering his family. What most people
don't understand is that decisions about such applications are effectively
made by cabinet, he says. "All the applications go to the minister of
justice who sets a team of lawyers and investigators to look into them and
write a report. "It comes to me with a recommendation.
2001-0322 - Ellis 'a victim of
witch-hunt'
NZPA
- The author of a long-awaited book on the Christchurch Civic Childcare
Centre case has concluded that convicted child abuser Peter Ellis was the
victim of a witch-hunt. Writing in Touchy Subject -- Teachers Touching
Children, a collection of articles about the shift in the relationship
between teachers and young children, author Lynley Hood says she found no
evidence of illegality by anyone accused in the case
2001-0322 - Dominion - Strange
case of the two Ellis reports
Letter
to the Editor by T R Bayley - Like the majority of others, I am in no
position to comment on the guilt, or otherwise, of Peter Ellis. On the
surface it appears his case has been fairly aired. But I found your columns
(March 16) concerning a 1999 secret report by Sir Thomas Thorp, a retired
senior High Court judge, disquieting. Prepared for the secretary for justice,
his report reaches quite different conclusions from those of Sir Thomas
Eichelbaum's report, issued last week.
2001-0322 - Otago Daily Times - Letter to the Editor
by
Gordon Weare - I believe Peter Ellis is an innocent victim of television
hysteria and the whispering campaign of the politically correct
2001-0321 - Evening Post - Ellis the victim - author
NZPA
- The author of a long-awaited book on the Christchurch Civic Childcare
Centre case has concluded that convicted child abuser Peter Ellis was the
victim of a witch-hunt
2001-0321 - Waikato Times - Ellis the victim?
NZPA
- The author of a long-awaited book on the Christchurch Civic Childcare
Centre case has concluded that convicted child abuser Peter Ellis was the
victim of a witch-hunt
2001-0321 - The Press - Witch-hunt trapped Ellis -
author
by
Martin Van Beynen - The author of a long-awaited book on the Christchurch
Civic Childcare Centre case has concluded that convicted child abuser Peter
Ellis was the victim of a witch-hunt. Writing in Touchy Subject -- Teachers
Touching Children, a collection of articles on the shift in the relationship
between teachers and young children, author Lynley Hood said she had found no
evidence of illegality by anyone accused in the case.
2001-0320 - Evening Post - Bizarre evidence
Letter
to the Editor by H Young - The trouble with merely deleting the
"fantastical" elements of the children's evidence against the
alleged Civic Crèche abuser Peter Ellis, as every hearing of his case has
done, is that they do not exist in isolation; they cast reasonable doubt on
the non-fantastical. If I said Phil Goff molested me, you might possibly
believe me. If I said he flew from the moon on gossamer wings and molested
me, you certainly would not.
2001-0320 - ECPAT - Peter Ellis: guilty or not?
by
Denise Ritchie - This week Sir Thomas Eichelbaum’s report finds no grounds to
set aside Ellis’ convictions, vindicating the testimony of children and
professionals at the heart of the case………ECPAT notes that the children’s
testimonies have been continuously upheld despite most rigorous probing over
10 years at the highest criminal law level
2001-0319 - Otago Daily Times - Letter to the Editor
by
R E Mawson - The children involved in the Peter Ellis Christchurch Civic
crèche case have clearly been abused......emotionally and psychologically
abused by the New Zealand justice system
2001-0319
- WYSIWYG News - Ellis bid for pardon declined
by Brian Harmer Convicted paedophile Peter Ellis' bid for a
pardon has failed. 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 Crèche case, was sound
2001-0318
- Sunday Star Times - Open Plan Toilets Show Ellis Innocent
Page C6 by Frank Haden “Thanks to a blunder by Justice
Minister Phil Goff, the dark side of the system has had its way at last with
Peter Ellis. I hope the disgusting chorus who railroaded an innocent man into
jail are satisfied. Parents have their $50,000 lump sum handouts,
enthusiastically touted by ACC shock troops in return for weaving an evil web
of fanciful accusations against Ellis in their sitting-room conferences.
Police, social workers and other self-styled experts have the
satisfaction of cobbling together a successful prosecution out of an
outrageous collection of black fairy tales. The astonishing narrowness of Gull's
instructions to Sir Thomas Eichelbaum are to blame for focusing the retired
chief justice on only one point: whether the interviewing techniques were
dubious enough to discredit the convictions. Ellis, instead of facing a
prosecution required to prove his guilt, was called on to prove his innocence
with both hands fled behind his back. Eichelbaum lacked instructions to
consider a fatal flaw in the prosecution: the offences physically could never
have happened, no matter what rubbish the children were cajoled into
reporting.
2001-0317 - NZ Herald - Report noted need for
further look at Ellis case
by
Alison Horwood - A retired High Court judge called for further investigation
into the case of convicted paedophile Peter Ellis in a report written for the
Ministry of Justice in 1999. Sir Thomas Thorp's report, released by Justice
Minister Phil Goff yesterday, said the two petitions filed on behalf of Ellis
raised a "considerable number of issues sufficiently to point to a need
for further investigation." But it was inappropriate to express any firm
view on whether Ellis should be pardoned at that time, nor should a pardon be
considered while his case was before the Appeal Court, Sir Thomas said.
2001-0317 - Dominion - Ellis angry judge's report
was kept secret
by
David McLoughlin - Former Christchurch Civic Crèche worker Peter Ellis is
angry that a report casting doubt on his convictions for child abuse was kept
secret for two years but another affirming his guilt was made public. He said
yesterday that if the hitherto-secret report on the Civic Crèche case by
retired High Court judge Sir Thomas Thorp had been made public when it was
written two years ago he might have got out of jail earlier.
2001-0317 - The Press - Conflicting Ellis reports
'OK'
by
Martin Van Beynen - A judge's report that raises questions about the safety of
the child-sex convictions against Peter Ellis does not concern Justice
Minister Phil Goff. The report, which was prepared in 1999 by retired High
Court judge Sir Thomas Thorp, agrees that material put forward by the Ellis
defence team raises serious concerns about his convictions. Its disclosure
comes only days after Mr Goff released the results of a ministerial inquiry
into the case.
2001-0317 - Waikato Times - Ellis defence denied US expert's opinion
NZPA
- A retired High Court judge's recommendation a formal opinion on the Peter
Ellis case be sought from an expert American psychologist was rejected by the
Crown Law Office and the later Eichelbaum investigation, Ellis' lawyer says.
In his 1999 report, Sir Thomas Thorp recommended a formal opinion on evidence
given by children from Christchurch's Civic Crèche be obtained from Cornell
University psychology professor Stephen Ceci, Judith Ablett Kerr, QC, said
yesterday.
2001-0317 - The Press - Legal reckoning
by
Elinore Wellwood - A Ministerial Inquiry has written what many hope will be
the final chapter in convicted pedophile Peter Ellis's bid to clear his name.
Elinore Wellwood outlines the decade-long controversy, and why Ellis has not
been pardoned.
2001-0317 - Otago Daily Times - Ablett Kerr angry
that expert's opinion not sought
Staff
Reporter and NZPA - Dunedin QC Judith Ablett Kerr is angry a retired High
Court judge's recommendation that a formal opinion on the Peter Ellis case be
sought from an expert American psychologist was twice rejected. In a 1999
report, Sir Thomas Thorp recommended a formal opinion on evidence given by
children from Christchurch's Civic Crèche be obtained from Cornell University
psychology professor Stephen Ceci, Mrs Ablett Kerr said in a statement
yesterday
2001-0316 - Nelson Mail - Time to move on
Editorial
- ….Ellis and his supporters will no doubt fight on, encouraged by the
revelation today of a secret 1999 report by a senior High Court judge that
expressed serious doubts about the convictions. But at some point the rest of
the country needs to move on. ……The Ellis case has been scrutinised like no
other …….Children can be trusted to tell the truth. Ellis's victims should be
given the chance to put their ordeal behind them.
2001-0316 - Otago Daily Times - Further complaint in
Ellis/Civic Childcare case
NZPA
- A fresh complainant in the Peter Ellis case went to police after consulting
a lawyer and Children's Commissioner Roger McClay, The Press reported. The
18-year-old Christchurch man and his family had approached police a while ago
over his allegations he had been sexually abused by Ellis at the Christchurch
Civic Childcare Centre and off the premises. The Press understood he
contacted police again this year and made a formal complaint in January
2001-0316
- Usenet - Prediction that Ellis conviction will stay
by Andrew Moffat Vallance The harsh reality is that now Peter Ellis' chance
of overturning his conviction is probably about the same as mine of winning
Miss New Zealand.
2001-0316 -
Govt Press Release - Thorp Report Not Secret
NZ Government Press Release by Minister of Justice Phil Goff - Justice
Minister Phil Goff said a media report claiming Sir Thomas Thorp's opinion on
Mr Ellis' case cast doubt on the conviction is incorrect. The Minister also
said it was misleading for the article to describe Sir Thomas's opinion as a
'secret' report
2001-0316 - NZ Herald - 1999 report into Ellis case
called for further investigation
A
retired High Court judge called for further investigation into the case of
convicted paedophile Peter Ellis in a report written for the Ministry of
Justice in 1999. Sir Thomas Thorp's report, released by Justice Minister Phil
Goff today, said the two petitions filed on behalf of Ellis raised a
"considerable number of issues sufficiently to point to a need for
further investigation."
2001-0316 - Dominion - Secret
Report
by David McLoughlin - A secret report by a retired senior
High Court judge casts "serious doubt" on the convictions of Peter
Ellis for sexually abusing children at the Christchurch Civic Crèche.
The report, by Sir Thomas Thorp, canvasses the views of experts on
mass-allegation child abuse cases, including the Civic Crèche affair, and
says that if those views proved to have substantial support, "it would
in my view be difficult to argue against the existence of a serious doubt
about the safety of (Ellis's) convictions".
His report is in sharp contrast to the one written by former chief justice
Sir Thomas Eichelbaum and issued this week. He canvassed much the same
evidence as Sir Thomas Thorp but concluded that Ellis had failed "by a
distinct margin" to prove his convictions were unsafe.
Sir Thomas Thorp's report was prepared for the secretary of justice in March
1999 in response to a petition for a pardon and a new Court of Appeal hearing
filed by Ellis's lawyer, Judith Ablett Kerr, QC. It has never been made
public.
2001-0315 - Evening Post -
Fresh complaint laid against Ellis
NZPA - A fresh complainant in the Peter Ellis case went to police after a
lawyer and Children's Commissioner Roger McClay were consulted, The Press
reported today. An 18-year-old Christchurch man and his family had approached
police over his allegations that he had been sexually abused by Ellis at
Christchurch Civic Crèche and off the premises.
2001-0315 - The Press - Fresh
allegations surface in Ellis case
by
Yvonne Martin - A fresh complainant in the Peter Ellis case went to police,
after consulting a lawyer and the Children's Commissioner, Roger McClay. The
18-year-old Christchurch man and his family had approached police a while ago
over his allegations that he had been sexually abused by Ellis at the
Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre and off the premises. The Press
understands he contacted police again this year, and made a formal complaint
in January. Police are not commenting on how they are treating the complaint,
and the Crown Law Office will not confirm whether it has been referred to it
for consideration.
2001-0315 - Dominion - Supporters say new complaint
against Ellis is smear attempt
by
Alan Samson - A new complaint against convicted child abuser Peter Ellis was
dismissed by Ellis's supporters yesterday as a smear deliberately raised at a
time he was again the focus of public attention. Ellis, who was sentenced in
1993 and served nearly seven years jail on 13 counts of abuse, had an
application for pardon declined on Tuesday by Governor-General Sir Michael
Hardie Boys after a ministerial inquiry.
Victoria
University sociology professor Mike Hill said, from Singapore, that all the
major United States ritual abuse cases had now been overturned.
"Australia never got as far as conviction and I don't think any similar
cases have been proved in Britain. "Ellis got caught between the wave of
hysteria generated by the satanism scare, and propagated by New Zealand
social workers in 1981, and the official reports in the UK and USA which
totally debunked the claims but were not published until 1994.
2001-0315 - Otago Daily Times - Goff says expert's
comments misconstrued
by
Sally Rae - Justice Minister Phil
Goff says Dunedin lawyer Judith Ablett-Kerr QC has misconstrued the comments
of one of the experts used in an investigation into the conviction of Peter
Ellis on 13 sex offences involving children. In a statement yesterday, Mr
Goff said Ellis's counsel, Mrs Ablett-Kerr, had "got it wrong"
claiming Prof Graham Davies, of Leicester University, had advised a broader
inquiry was needed
2001-0315 - The Press -
An End to the Crèche Case?
Editorial: “An End to the Crèche Case?”
Convicted pedophile Peter Ellis has surely
exhausted the judicial options to clear his name
2001-0315 - Otago Daily
Times - The Ellis Cause
The key criticisms by Ellis of the police case claim that children were
questioned using now discredited techniques, which could have led to
fabricated allegations; the questioning produced many bizarre allegations,
which showed the children could not be relied on; he would have had great
difficulty in committing the offences without being detected because of the
crèche layout and the number of people passing through; there was a lack of any
unsolicited complaint from children at the crèche about him; the sharing of
information and rumour among crèche parents - some of whom were counsellors
in abuse cases - after a psychologically disturbed parent made the first
allegation late in 1991 had detrimentally affected consideration of the
claims; the police had been selective in their use of complainants; and that
two of the jurors either knew the mother of one of the child complainants or
knew the Crown prosecutor in the case, which may have affected the premise of
an objective and detached jury
2001-0314 - Evening Post -
Ellis' lawyer vows to continue fight
NZPA - Convicted child-abuser Peter Ellis' lawyer, Judith Ablett Kerr QC, has
vowed to battle on to clear him after Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie
Boys' decision to decline his application for a pardon. She said possible
options now included taking the case to the Privy Council in London or the
Court of Human Rights in New York. Two earlier appeals to the Court of Appeal
failed.
2001-0314 - Evening Post -
'Children 6, Ellis nil'
Parents
of children sexually abused by convicted childcare worker Peter Ellis say the
case should now be laid to rest. They were "delighted and relieved"
by the findings of the inquiry conducted by former Chief Justice Sir Thomas
Eichelbaum, upholding Ellis' convictions for abusing children in his care.
Christie McDonald, QC, who represented parents and children involved in the
Ellis case, said repeatedly raising the case had been of great concern
2001-0314 - Evening Post - Door closes on Ellis
by
Tracy Watkins - When convicted paedophile Peter Ellis walked out of prison a
year ago, it was supposedly as a free man. But Ellis and supporters maintain
his sentence for sexually abusing children at Christchurch civic crèche won't
be over until his name has been cleared. This week the final door appeared to
shut on those hopes. It was announced on Monday that Governor-General Sir
Michael Hardie Boys had declined Ellis' appeal for a pardon.
2001-0314 - Waikato Times
- Ellis to appeal
NZPA - Peter Ellis' lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, has vowed to battle on to
clear him of sex offence convictions after the Government's decision to
decline his application for a pardon
2001-0314 - Waikato Times - Final door appears shut
on Ellis' hopes to clear name
NZPA
- Mrs Ablett Kerr questioned the techniques used to gain evidence, the
retraction of children's evidence, issues of trial procedure, issues to do
with the jury and the non-disclosure of material to the defence. Ellis'
mother Lesley is in no doubt of her son's innocence, however. When Ellis was
still in prison, she said she never believed anything bad ever happened at
the crèche while her son worked there.
2001-0314 - Otago Daily Times - Will not give up
'for convenience'
by
Sally Rae - Peter Ellis hopes Justice Minister Phil Goff will be brave enough
to look at widening the inquiry into his case. Yesterday, Ellis heard his
application for a pardon had been declined, the third time attempts to clear
his name have failed. Ellis, who has always maintained his innocence, appears
to have exhausted all avenues to clear his name...... With support from
family, friends, fellow crèche workers and members of the public, Ellis said
he could "dig deep enough" to go on.
2001-0314 - Otago Daily Times - Pardon denied but
Ellis not defeated
by
Sally Rae - The battle to clear
convicted sex offender Peter Ellis' name is not over, despite Minister of
Justice Phil Goff's announcement yesterday he had advised the
Governor-General to decline Ellis' application for a pardon.
2001-0314 - Otago Daily Times - Ellis' counsel
studies options
Police
and social workers hailed the report as a "vindication" for them
and Ellis' child victims, all of whom had been attacked by Ellis' defence
team as lacking credibility. Child, Youth and Family's chief social worker
Shannon Pakura said the focus should be on the former crèche children, now in
their teens. "We shouldn't forget that they are the victims, not Ellis .
. . I hope it will help them deal with any ongoing effects of the abuse they
suffered."
2001-0314 - Otago Daily Times - Dunedin author to
study report
by
Sally Rae - Dunedin author Lynley Hood will study the report of the
ministerial inquiry into the Peter Ellis case and may add a few pages to her
forthcoming book about the controversial crèche case. A City Possessed will
be published by Longacre Press and released later this year
2001-0314 - NZ Herald - Editorial:
Ellis Case has run it’s course
Editorial - Such have been the strong emotions raised by the Peter Ellis case
that those who believe him innocent and those convinced of his guilt will surely
never see eye to eye. Now, however, is the time to put the matter to rest.
The Court of Appeal has twice reviewed his conviction for sexually abusing
children in his care at the Christchurch civic crèche. Twice, it has upheld
the jury's verdict. Now that verdict has effectively been upheld a third time
by retired Chief Justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum. That should be the end of the
matter
2001-0314 - NZ Herald - Ellis faces
new abuse complaint
by
Francesca Mold and Alison Horwood - A fresh complaint has been laid against
convicted sex abuser Peter Ellis by a Christchurch teenager, TV One News said
last night. 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.
2001-0314 - NZ Herald -
Children's testimony vindicated in Ellis case
by
Audreay Young - A ministerial inquiry finds no grounds to set aside Peter
Ellis' child abuse convictions and pardon him. Audreay Young reports. Peter
Ellis has lost what is essentially a de facto third appeal against
convictions for mass child abuse. His 1993 convictions for child abuse at the
Christchurch Civic Crèche are thoroughly safe, according to former chief
justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum, who released the results of his inquiry into
the case yesterday
2001-0314 - Government -
Wider Inquiry Claim Wrong
by
Phil Goff - Justice Minister Phil Goff says counsel for Peter Ellis, Judith
Ablett Kerr QC, has misconstrued the comments of one of the experts used in
the Ministerial Inquiry suggesting he said a wider inquiry was required.
"Mrs Ablett Kerr has got it wrong claiming Professor Graham Davies of
Leicester University advised a broader inquiry was needed. "Professor
Davies said in the report there were issues beyond his remit relating to
details of evidence which the wider inquiry may wish to consider," Mr
Goff said. The Minister said in its context, however, the reference to 'the
wider inquiry' meant the inquiry by former Chief Justice Sir Thomas
Eichelbaum.
2001-0314 - Stuff - Ellis' lawyer
vows to continue fight to clear his name
NZPA
- Peter Ellis' lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, has vowed to battle on to clear
him of his sex offence convictions after the Government's decision to decline
his application for a pardon. She said possible options now included taking
the case to the Privy Council in London or the Court of Human Rights in New
York. Two earlier appeals to the Court of Appeal have failed.
2001-0314 - The Press -
Inquiry delivers blow to Ellis
Staff
Reporters - Convicted child abuser Peter Ellis has been dealt what could be a
knockout blow in his battle to overturn his convictions and clear his name. Justice
Minister Phil Goff yesterday announced that Governor-General Sir Michael
Hardie Boys had on his advice rejected Ellis' third bid for a pardon. The
case began at the Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre, where Ellis worked,
almost 10 years ago and has since gone through a High Court trial, two Court
of Appeal proceedings, and finally last year a Ministerial Inquiry.
2001-0314 - The Press - Police
action 'vindicated'
by
Staff Reporters - Sir Thomas Eichelbaum's report on the Ellis case has left
crèche parents, police, and other groups feeling vindicated. Acting Police
Commissioner Paul Fitzharris yesterday welcomed Sir Thomas's findings, which
rejected Ellis's contention that his convictions on charges that he abused
children at the Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre were unsafe. "It's
nice to have the actions of our officers and staff of our partner agency
(Child, Youth and Family) vindicated by independent experts and a Ministerial
Inquiry," Mr Fitzharris said. "We have always believed that police
staff acted in a professional manner throughout this case.
2001-0314 - The Press - Peter
Ellis Chronology
by
Staff Reporters - Dec 91.....Ellis suspended from the Civic Childcare Centre
after one woman claimed her son had been sexually abused by him. …. June
93.....Ellis found guilty of 16 out of 25 charges of abusing children in his
care. Sentenced to 10 years jail….
2001-0314 - The Dominion -
Inquiry leaves Ellis tired but unbowed
by Alan Samson - Crèche worker Peter Ellis's hopes of a pardon were ended by the
findings of a government-ordered inquiry yesterday. Alan Samson reports.
Christchurch Civic Crèche worker Peter Ellis was suspended in 1991 after a
complaint by a mother arising from a comment made by her son about
"Peter's black penis". In initial interviews, none of the children
concerned made any allegations of sexual offending and, at one stage, police
told the crèche management the inquiry was over.
2001-0314 - The Dominion -
Ellis, denied pardon, vows to fight on
by Alan Samson - Convicted child abuser Peter Ellis maintained his innocence and vowed
to keep fighting yesterday after his application for a pardon was declined.
The rejection by Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys, on the advice of
Justice Minister Phil Goff, followed findings by former chief justice Sir
Thomas Eichelbaum in a ministerial inquiry that contamination of evidence had
not been sufficient to put Ellis's convictions into question. Mr Goff said
yesterday that his decision had been based on the report findings, which he
agreed with.
2001-0313 - Stuff - Ellis pardon
turned down
NZPA
- The Governor-General has turned down Peter Ellis's application for a
pardon, Justice Minister Phil Goff said this afternoon. His decision was
based on a report by former Chief Justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum
2001-0313 - CYF - Child,
Youth And Family Interviewers Vindicated
The
professionalism of Child, Youth and Family’s evidential interviewers in the
Christchurch civic crèche case has been strongly upheld by the Eichelbaum
report, says chief social worker Shannon Pakura. “One of Child, Youth and
Family’s key roles in the case was to interview the children about what had
happened to them. Police then studied the evidence gathered before making a
decision whether to prosecute. “Child, Youth and Family interviewers, then
and now, are always very aware of the need to gather evidence carefully so
that the process is not unfair to an alleged offender. “The Eichelbaum report
shows two eminent international experts were clear that our interviewers in
the civic crèche case did their jobs to a high standard. It is a tribute to
their professionalism and the compassion they bring to their jobs.”
2001-0313 - National Radio - Checkpoint
An interview with Phil Goff and Gaye Davidson. Reaction to the Justice
Minister (Phil Goff) turning down Peter Ellis's third bid for a pardon. Goff refers to the Eichelbaum report and
the expert advisors for that report, Louise Sas and Graham Davies. Gaye Davidson suggests that it is not the
end of the road for Peter Ellis, and that he will make it in the end.
2001-0313 - NZ Herald - Ellis vows to keep fighting
despite pardon refusal
Peter
Ellis and his supporters have vowed to continue the battle to clear his name
of child abuse convictions in spite of the refusal to grant him a pardon
2001-0313 - NZ Herald -
Governor General turns down Ellis pardon
The Governor General has rejected Peter Ellis’ application for a pardon,
Justice Minister Phil Goff announced today. Mr Goff said he had advised the
Governor General that the application be declined based on Retired Chief
Justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum’s report into the Ellis case. The Eichelbaum
report, also released today, concluded that the case for a pardon had failed
to prove that the convictions were unsafe
2001-0313 - NZ Police - Report endorses investigation
professionalism
Police
welcome the findings of the Eichelbaum Report on the investigation into the
Ellis case, said Acting Commissioner Paul Fitzharris. “Investigations into
suspected child abuse cases are difficult and very stressful for the victims
and the Police officers involved. We have always believed Police staff acted
in a professional manner throughout this case,” said Mr Fitzharris.
2001-0313 - TV One News
- Ellis Pardon Declined
Convicted child sex abuser Peter Ellis has lost what may be his final bid for
a pardon. Justice Minister Phil Goff declined the third application for a
pardon after a Ministerial Inquiry by the former Chief Justice, Sir Thomas
Eichelbaum, which lasted almost a year. Ellis, 41, was released from prison
last year after serving more than six years of a 10 year sentence after being
found guilty on 13 charges in 1993 of sexually abusing children in his care
at the Christchurch Civic Crèche.
2001-0313 - TV One
News - No Pardon For Peter Ellis
Convicted child molester Peter Ellis will not be getting a pardon from the Governor
General. A year-long ministerial inquiry has found the former Christchurch
crèche worker did get a fair trial
2001-0313
- Govt Press Release - Justice Ministry On Ellis Inquiry
NZ Government Press Release by Minister of Justice Phil Goff – The
Governor-General has declined Mr Peter Ellis' application for a pardon, the
Minister of Justice Phil Goff announced today. The Minister also released a
copy of the Report of the Ministerial Inquiry into the Peter Ellis case, by
former Chief Justice the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Eichelbaum
2001-0313 - The Press -
Ellis ministerial inquiry decision to be released
The
results of a ministerial inquiry into the conviction of Peter Ellis on child
sex charges will be made public today. Justice Minister Phil Goff will
release the findings this afternoon. Ellis has travelled to Dunedin to be
with his lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC, when she receives the advice of the
Governor-General, in relation to his third petition. Mr Goff confirmed last
week that he had seen the report of retired chief justice Sir Thomas
Eichelbaum, but wanted those involved to read it before it was made public.
2001-0313 - Dominion - Decision
time today on Ellis pardon plea
Former
Christchurch Civic Crèche worker Peter Ellis will know today whether he is to
be pardoned after an eight-year battle against his convictions for child
abuse. Neither Ellis, who served seven years for 13 abuse charges, nor his
supporters are confident, mainly because Justice Minister Phil Goff opted for
a narrow ministerial inquiry into interviewing techniques, rather than a full
commission of inquiry
2001-0313 - Evening Post -
Ellis report due
NZPA - Convicted child abuser Peter Ellis is due to be in Dunedin today with
his counsel, Judith Ablett Kerr QC, to receive the report of the ministerial
inquiry into his case. Last week, Justice Minister Phil Goff confirmed he had
seen the report which would be publicly released this week
2001-0313 - Waikato Times
- Ellis report due
NZPA - Convicted child abuser Peter Ellis was in Dunedin today with his
counsel Judith Ablett Kerr QC to receive the report of the ministerial
inquiry into his case. Last week, Justice Minister Phil Goff confirmed he had
seen the report which would be publicly released this week.
2001-0313
- TV One News - Ellis Inquiry Announcement Expected
Justice Minister Phil Goff is expect on Tuesday afternoon to release the
findings of a Ministerial Inquiry into the investigation of convicted child
sex abuser Peter Ellis. The inquiry, headed by retired chief justice Sir
Thomas Eichelbaum, is focused on whether the way evidence gathered to convict
Ellis was obtained in a sound manner
2001-0313 - Stuff - Ellis
ministerial inquiry decision to be released
The
results of a ministerial inquiry into the conviction of Peter Ellis on child
sex charges will be made public today. Justice Minister Phil Goff will
release the findings this afternoon. Ellis has travelled to Dunedin to be
with his lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC, when she receives the advice of the
Governor-General, in relation to his third petition. Mr Goff confirmed last
week that he had seen the report of retired chief justice Sir Thomas
Eichelbaum, but wanted those involved to read it before it was made public.
2001-0313 - Otago Daily Times - Report out today on
Ellis case
by
Sally Rae - Peter Ellis will be in Dunedin today with his counsel Judith
Ablett Kerr QC to receive the report of the ministerial inquiry into his
case. Last week, Justice Minister Phil Goff confirmed he had seen the report,
which would be publicly released this week. The report was expected to be
released today.
2001-0306 - Otago Daily Times - Goff receives
inquiry's report on Peter Ellis case
NZPA
- Justice Minister Phil Goff has received the report of the ministerial
inquiry into the Peter Ellis case. Mr Goff confirmed yesterday he had seen
the report, which would be circulated to interested parties before it was
publicly released next week. Retired chief justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum had
been due to report last August but the time was extended to
2001-0306 - NZ Herald - Goff gets
Ellis report
Justice
Minister Phil Goff has received the report of the ministerial inquiry into
the Peter Ellis case. Mr Goff said yesterday that he had seen the report,
which would be shown to interested parties before it was publicly released
next week
2001-0306 - Dominion - Report
on inquiry into Ellis case with Government
NZPA - Justice Minister Phil Goff has received the report of the ministerial
inquiry into the Peter Ellis case. Mr Goff confirmed yesterday that he had
seen the report which would be circulated to interested parties before it was
made public next week. Retired chief justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum had been
due to report last August but the time was extended to February.
2001-0306 - The Press - Goff given
Ellis report
NZPA - Justice Minister Phil Goff has received the report of the ministerial
inquiry into the Peter Ellis case. Mr Goff confirmed yesterday that he had
seen the report, which would be circulated to interested parties before it
was publicly released next week. Retired chief justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum
had been due to report last August but the time was extended to February this
year.
2001-0303 - Dominion - Ellis not holding his breath for
a pardon
by
David McLoughlin - Former Christchurch Civic Crèche worker Peter Ellis may
know within two weeks if the fight against his convictions for abusing young
children in his care will result in a pardon. But he is not holding his
breath that he will get one……But Mr Goff opted for a narrow ministerial
inquiry into interviewing techniques, rather than a full commission of
inquiry. Because of this, neither Mr Ellis nor his supporters are optimistic
that Sir Thomas will find in his favour
2001-0116 - Otago Daily Times - Withdrawn Ellis book
still listed
NZPA
- Canterbury University Press is still promoting a book on the controversial
Peter Ellis child-sex case that it is no longer publishing after a fallout
with the author. The publisher's web site lists Dunedin author Lynley Hood's
latest book, A City Possessed , among its new titles and allows readers to
pre-order copies.
2001-0115 - The Press - Varsity
press still listing withdrawn Ellis book
by
Yvonne Martin - Canterbury University Press is still promoting a book on the
controversial Peter Ellis child-sex case that it is no longer publishing
after a fallout with the author. The publisher's website lists Dunedin author
Lynley Hood's latest book, A City Possessed, among its new titles and allows
readers to pre-order copies. The listing continues despite Canterbury
University Press (CUP) saying before Christmas that the book was about to be
removed from the website.
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