|
Otago Daily
Times
February 20 2002
Ellis calls for new inquiry
NZPA
Christchurch: 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.
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 on Monday
identified systemic flaws and said former Chief Justice Sir Thomas
Eichelbaum's judgement, 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."
Ellis said 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."
|
