|
Dominion
Post
August 16, 2003
Creche case kids ask for legal aid
by Linley Boniface
Two teenagers who
gave evidence in the Christchurch Civic Creche child abuse case have asked
for legal funding to appear before the select committee looking into the
controversy.
The teenagers, who break their 10-year silence to be interviewed exclusively
in The Dominion Post today, said it was unfair that convicted paedophile
Peter Ellis had the financial backing of wealthy supporters while they did
not even have a lawyer to speak on their behalf.
Tom and Katrina - whose real names are suppressed - were a crucial part of
the Crown case against Mr Ellis, who served seven years in prison for
sexually abusing young children. Four of the convictions against him related
to Katrina, and three related to Tom.
Since the publication of Lynley Hood's book, A City Possessed: The
Christchurch Civic Creche Case, the campaign to pardon Mr Ellis has gathered
force.
Earlier this month, publisher Barry Colman paid for a double-page
advertisement in the Sunday Star-Times featuring transcripts of evidential
interviews with Tom and Katrina, some of which were not played to the jury.
An 807-signature petition presented to Parliament's justice and electoral
select committee calls for a royal commission of inquiry into the case.
Tom and Katrina want to give evidence before the select committee, but Tom's
parents said they were initially told by the Justice Ministry that they would
not be given funding. A ministry spokesperson now says the request is still
being considered.
Tom's mother said she was pleased there was still a chance that the ministry
would pay for a lawyer for Tom and Katrina.
"It's just a shame we couldn't have got legal representation the day
those transcripts ended up in the paper," she said.
"No one can give us advice - not the Crown, not the police, not anyone.
We don't have anyone to go to."
Roger McClay, the Commissioner for Children, said that if the ministry turned
down the application, he might be able to give the teenagers some money from
a fund set up to help the victims of child abuse.
"It is very brave of these young people to think about going before the
select committee," he said.
"There are a lot of people who want to discredit them, which is why we
hope the select committee will respect their wish to have their say. These
teenagers have their lives to be getting on with."
He said he understood there were other young people who wanted to tell the
select committee what had happened to them at Christchurch Civic Creche.
The select committee has asked the petitioners and the ministry to provide
briefings by the end of this month.
It should consider the briefings early next month, and is then likely to seek
comment from people involved in the case before making its recommendations to
the Government.
|
