The Dominion Post
July 18 2003

Juries not always right
Letter to the Editor
by Jonathon Harper (Ngaio)

I am surprised you recently featured the comments of M Walker (Letters, July 14) about the Peter Ellis convictions.

It suggests that juries always get it right. The criminology textbook, Crime In New Zealand by Dr Greg Newbold, says they have got it wrong several times, and that our legal system is inadequate at fixing its own mistakes. He cites the Ellis case as an example.

After carefully reading Lynley Hood's book, I conclude she based her criticism of the verdicts on the evidence presented in court, as she quotes extensively from the transcript. She also draws on expert analysis of the evidence that was videotaped.

The bias evidenced by certain feminists and fundamentalists is discussed in her book to illustrate the difficulties of having a fair trial in an atmosphere of public panic about satanic ritual abuse.

I don't think this is her proof the verdicts were wrong, as suggested by M Walker.

Your correspondent claims that denying Ellis' guilt proves one is "in denial".

So what if someone were to accuse your correspondent of abusing a child? By his/her logic, all allegations are automatically true.