The Herald
August 5 2003

"Briefly"
Privy Council next for Ellis lawyer.

Peter Ellis' lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, hopes to lodge his petition next week seeking special leave from the Privy Council in London to proceed with an appeal in New Zealand, she said yesterday.

The announcement follows publicity about Ellis' 1993 conviction for molesting children in his care after millionaire publisher Barry Colman paid more than $20,000 for an advertisement in a Sunday newspaper of transcripts of child testimonies, some of which were not played to the trial jury.

Ms Ablett-Kerr said Mr Colman's actions were "totally independent" of her and of Ellis. Her role was to take the case to the Privy Council.