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Letter
to the NZ Herald (Unpublished)
August 9, 2003
Congratulations to Diana Wichtel
by Gordon Waugh, Auckland
Congratulations
to Diana Wichtel (Comment, Aug 9) for her clear insight into the Ellis
conviction and for her courage to constructively criticise that shameful
affair.
The Christchurch Creche case is virtually identical to scores ofothers
overseas. With few exceptions, those convictions have since been quashed by
appellate courts because the beliefs, assumptions and interrogation methods
used were unreliable, unsafe and fatally flawed.
Over the past decade, those unethical, unscientific methods have resulted in
tens of thousands of New
Zealand men being accused of sexual abuse.
The effect on our community has been devastating. Thousands more will
inevitably suffer the same fate.
A Royal Commission is needed. It should at least include a thorough review of
those methods and the reliability of "evidence" they produce;
introduction of legislation to control counsellor training, examination,
registration and accountability; the systemic flaws in the ACC system; and
the unhealthy amendments and additions made to Section 23 of the Evidence
Act. In the meantime, your male readers might ponder the observation
"There, but for the grace of God, go I."
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