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.