|
The Press
August 26, 2002
Ellis slams refusal to act on prize-winning book
Peter Ellis says the Ministry of Justice's dismissal of
Lynley Hood's book on the Christchurch Civic Crèche sex-abuse case is "a
slap in the face to the people of New Zealand".
The ministry's chief legal counsel, Val Sim, was asked to assess whether the
award-winning book, A City Possessed,
might indicate a need to reopen the case of convicted sex offender Peter
Ellis. Ms Sim said the book presented "very little new
information", and all points raised had been considered by previous
courts and inquiries.
But Mr Ellis, 44, last night told The Press the review was a case of
"the powers-that-be looking after themselves".
"She was only going to give the answer the boss wants to hear," Mr
Ellis said, in reference to Justice Minister Phil Goff, who ordered the
review.
"The public up and down New
Zealand, people who don't know me, they
have written to Mr Goff, to the papers ... to say something needs to be
done."
He said the refusal to reopen the case was "a slap in the face to the
people of New Zealand".
Ms Hood's 640-page book won this year's Montana Book Award for history and
the Montana
medal for non-fiction. The Dunedin
author had received flattering academic and legal critiques of the book.
When asked if he had given up fighting to clear his name, Mr Ellis replied:
"No, I haven't given it away. You don't hang round for 12 years to say 'uh,
can't be bothered'."
|
