The Press
February 19 2002.
Ellis asks Goff for new inquiry
Peter
Ellis has called on Justice Minister Phil Goff to launch a new inquiry into
his conviction after the New Zealand Law Journal highlighted flaws in the way
his case was handled.
Mr Ellis, who was convicted on child abuse charges in 1993 but has always
maintained his innocence, was released from prison in 2000 after serving seven
years of a 10-year sentence. His conviction was referred to the Court of
Appeal twice and was the subject of a ministerial inquiry.
An editorial in the New Zealand Law Journal published yesterday identified
systemic flaws and said former Chief Justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum's
judgment, when leading a ministerial inquiry into the case, was either
wrongly directed or at fault.
It cited Lynley Hood's book A City Possessed as "the first
attempt at a review of the whole case from the investigation onwards".
Journal editor Bernard Robertson calls for a repeal of the Evidence Act and
questions whether the appeal process works.
"Each of the reviews and appeals suffered from some limitation,
self-imposed or otherwise."
Mr Ellis said last night that the editorial in the independent journal
vindicated his call for an inquiry.
"Phil Goff should honour the word of the Court of Appeal which said
there should be a commission of inquiry. As far as I'm concerned he is
getting poor advice."
Mr Robertson said the strength of the 600-page book was the full reproduction
of witness statements, in contrast to the Court of Appeal's admission that it
examined extracts of the statements. The ministerial inquiry had similar
limitations.
Mr Robertson said the courts could have been "conned" by
psychologists.
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