Newstalk
ZB
August 4, 2003
More Labour support possible for Ellis
Petition calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Peter Ellis's child
abuse convictions may get more Labour signatories
There is renewed hope more Labour MPs will sign a second
petition calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Peter Ellis's child
abuse convictions.
The issue has been given further attention after selected testimonies of
children in the case were published in an advertisement in Sunday newspapers.
National MP Don Brash is one MP spearheading the petition.
He says he is aware of several more Labour MPs who are interested in putting
their name to it.
The two Labour MPs who signed the original petition are Georgina Beyer and
David Parker.
The second petition is due to be presented to Justice Minister Phil Goff at the
end of the month.
Dr Brash believes Justice Minister Phil Goff could risk alienating his caucus
colleagues if he does not agree to an inquiry.
Newstalk
ZB
August 4, 2003
Goff dismisses Ellis transcripts
Justice Minister Phil Goff says there is nothing new in Sunday paper ads
featuring Ellis case transcripts
Claims by Justice Minister Phil Goff that there is nothing new in published
transcripts of evidence given by children in the Christchurch Civic Creche case
are being disputed.
Selected transcripts appeared in an advertisement in a national newspaper on
Sunday.
The man who paid for the ad, National Business Review publisher Barry Colman is
taking issue with Mr Goff.
He says the trial judge stopped the jury hearing some interviews, which
hindered the defence's case.
Mr Goff says there is no need for another inquiry.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister is putting her faith in the series of
investigations into the case.
Helen Clark says she has no more idea than anyone else as to whether or not he
should have been found guilty.
However she says she does know it went twice to the court of appeal and a
former Chief Justice conducted a very lengthy review.
All of those came up with the same answer.
Newstalk
ZB
August 4, 2003
Ellis supporters ponder options
Campaigners for Royal Commission into Ellis' conviction believe justice
minister will eventually bow to public pressure
Peter Ellis supporters are considering their next move after the Justice
Minister's rejection of their latest bid for an inquiry.
Transcripts of children's testimonies from the Christchurch Civic Creche case
have been published in the Sunday Star-Times. The jury that convicted Ellis in
1993 was not presented with the evidence before it found the childcare worker
guilty of molestation.
Campaigners are trying to pressure the Justice Minister into ordering a Royal
Commission of Inquiry to investigate the merits of Mr Ellis' convictions.
But Phil Goff says the transcripts are nothing new, and continues to reject the
calls.
Political analyst Chris Trotter is putting his weight behind the campaign for
an inquiry.
He claims Mr Goff will also be copping pressure from child advocate groups and
the Labour Party caucus.
Mr Trotter believes the minister will maintain his position until public
pressure is too great to ignore.
Ellis served six-and-a-half years of his 10 year sentence and was released in
2000.
Newstalk
ZB
August 4, 2003
Goff rejects pressure for another Ellis inquiry
Justice Minister Goff says previous inquiries into Ellis case convince him no
need for Royal Commission of Inquiry
The Justice Minister says any doubts he had about the Peter Ellis case were
laid to rest some time ago, and he will not bow to pressure to launch a Royal
Commission of Inquiry.
Ellis supporter, businessman Barry Colman, has tried to up the ante by
publishing the testimonies by Child, Youth and Family of children in the
Christchurch Civic Creche case in the Sunday Star-Times.
Mr Colman claims the 1993 jury, which convicted Ellis of abusing children in
his care, did not see the full transcripts and wants Justice Minister Phil Goff
to order a Royal Commission of Inquiry.
But Mr Goff says that will not happen because he is satisfied with previous
inquiries into the case.
He says his own doubts prompted the ministerial inquiry, which vindicated the
court's findings.
Ellis served six-and-a-half years of a 10-year sentence. He was freed in 2000.