Sunday News
August 3 2003

Goff says no to Ellis inquiry bid
by Simon Bradwell


Justice minister Phil Goff has rejected the latest bid to send the Peter Ellis case back to court.

Goff told Sunday News that a high-profile newspaper campaign today was not enough to convince him to order an inquiry into Ellis's conviction on child abuse charges.

Millionaire Auckland businessman Barry Colman has paid for full-page advertisements in a newspaper today in an attempt to clear Ellis's name.

The advertisements contain transcripts of interviews with children at the centre of the Christchurch Civic creche case.

In 1993, Ellis was found guilty on 16 charges of child molestation at the creche, where he worked.

Four of his female co-workers were cleared.

Ellis - freed in 2000 after serving seven years of a 10-year sentence - has always maintained his innocence.

Goff said there was nothing new in the transcripts being shown in today's newspaper advertisement.

"Every one of the transcripts was either heard by the jury or the subject of cross-examination," he said.

"Every one was available to the defence."

Much of the testimony is graphic or bizarre.

But Goff said it was important to remember that Ellis was not convicted on the strength of absurd allegations.

"That was discarded by the prosecution, and we would have a pretty shonky justice system if that wasn't the case," he said.

Children's commissioner Roger McClay, and the Child, Youth and Family department sought legal advice to see if they could stop publication of the testimony.

But they were told that there was nothing they could do.

"I have very grave concerns that the children's rights are being breached," McClay told Sunday News.

McClay said the advertisements would re-open old wounds for the victims.

"They are serving a life sentence for what Ellis did, and it's churned up for them every time it's in the media," he said.

Colman has offered $100,000 for new evidence that would clear Ellis.