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Sunday
Star Times
August 10, 2003
The story so far
December 1991: Peter Ellis is suspended from the
Civic Childcare Centre after one woman claims her son has been sexually
abused by him.
June
1993: Ellis is found guilty of 16 out of 25 charges of abusing
children in his care. Sentenced to 10 years' jail.
September
1994: Court of Appeal rejects Ellis' appeal.
June
1995: Government rejects call for inquiry.
December
1997: Lawyer Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC, files first petition to the
governor-general seeking pardon for Ellis.
March
1998: Parole for Ellis considered but rejected.
November
1998: Ablett-Kerr files second petition to the governor-general
seeking pardon, a widening of the terms of appeal, and a royal commission of
inquiry into the case.
May
1999: Governor-general declines pardon but grants request to widen
terms of appeal.
July
1999: Appeal hearing begins.
October
1999: Appeal court turns down second appeal but recommends a
commission of inquiry to investigate aspects of the case.
February
2000: Ellis released from Paparua Prison.
March
2000: Justice Minister Phil Goff announces ministerial inquiry into
the reliability of children's evidence.
March
2001: Report of the ministerial inquiry is released. Sir Thomas
Eichelbaum says Ellis fails by a distinct margin to prove his innocence.
September 2001: Lynley Hood's book A City Possessed is
released, which indicates no crimes took place at the creche and Ellis was
the victim of a mass panic in Christchurch.
June
2003: A petition of 100 high-profile New Zealanders calls for a
commission of inquiry into the case. Publisher Barry Colman offers a $100,000
reward for new information leading to such an inquiry.
Whats
next
A petition calling for a commission of inquiry goes before a parliamentary
select committee.
Judith Ablett-Kerr seeks leave to appeal to Privy Council.
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