The Press
Civic Creche dad condemns Ellis campaign
by Jarrod Booker
A Christchurch Civic Creche parent says he has "absolute belief" in
convicted paedophile Peter Ellis's guilt and condemns the high-profile campaign
to clear him.
The man, whose daughter disclosed abuse, but whose evidence was not used in
court, has spoken out just as
Child, Youth, and Family (CYF) is taking legal advice over Colman's plans to
publish the testimonies, obtained after publicity about a $100,000 reward for
fresh information on the case.
The father, who cannot be identified, said the campaign to quash Ellis's
convictions was "ill-informed and hurtful".
He said the swelling high-profile belief in Ellis's innocence ignored the facts
leading to his conviction and showed scant regard for his victims.
His daughter was interviewed twice by social workers trying to uncover if Ellis
had abused children at the Civic Creche in the late 1980s.
While her evidence was not used to convict Ellis, he has no doubt about Ellis's
guilt.
"It angers and hurts me that people who were not there, who did not go to
the creche five days a week, or did not follow the trial support Ellis.
"Our justice system has time and time again found him guilty of this. Just
keep looking at the facts and keep the emotion out of it," he said.
He said people had rushed to make a judgment about Ellis based on a "book
and seeing something in the media".
He said his daughter, now at university, refused to talk or even "think
about" what happened at the Civic Creche.
But he said the trial was being brought up so often there was no avoiding it.
"The victims have been forgotten about. Peter Ellis got a few years, but we've
got a life sentence.
"It's a horrible thing and at the time you have all sorts of
visualisations and pictures in your mind about what he might have done to my
child.
"I know he did it. The bottom line was there were too many complaints, too
many stories, too many things said from too many children."
Meanwhile, Barry Colman claimed publication of the transcripts would
"expose how pathetic, flimsy, and one-sided the evidence against Ellis
was".
CYF chief social worker Shannon Pakura said she was
very concerned at Mr Colman's scheme. The department would be getting legal
advice.
"We believe the transcripts should not be allowed to be available to those
not legitimately suited," Ms Pakura said.
She held concerns for the children interviewed and the impacts on
"children in the future who may be asked to give evidence".
Last month 140 high-profile New Zealanders called for a royal commission of
inquiry into Ellis's conviction. Justice Minister Phil Goff has refused to hold
an inquiry unless new evidence is presented.