|
The
Dominion Post
August 23, 2003
Ellis hearings may be held in Christchurch
Former Christchurch Civic Creche children wanting to testify before a
parliamentary select committee may be able to do so in their home town.
A petition asking for a Royal Commission into the conviction of Peter Ellis
is due to go before the justice and electoral select committee shortly.
Ellis was convicted of child abuse at the Christchurch Civic Creche and
sentenced to 10 years' jail in 1993. He spent almost seven years in prison
and was freed in 2000.
Ellis has had a jury trial and two Court of Appeal hearings, but now has
political backing for a Commission of Inquiry into the case.
Two of the children -- now teenagers -- last week said they wanted to testify
before any select committee hearing, but would need financial help for
lawyers and to get to Wellington.
Committee chairman Tim Barnett -- the MP for Christchurch Central -- told the
Dominion Post yesterday the committee was likely to hold hearings in Christchurch if it
moved beyond initial consideration of the petition.
Commissioner for Children Roger McClay has offered to help the teenager's
expenses from a fund gifted to his office to help the victims of child abuse.
Mr McClay has said he did not have $20,000 "like big powerful
people" who supported convicted paedophile Peter Ellis, but there were
"a few dollars" available from the fund.
Yesterday, publisher Barry Colman -- who earlier this month paid $20,500 to
publish unedited sections of the youngsters' testimonies on two full pages of
the Sunday Star-Times -- pledged to share half the teenager's expenses.
"Any money I have spent so far has been to flush out the truth and to
get to the bottom of this Peter Ellis affair," Mr Colman said.
"If I can do something to throw even more light on this issue I would be
glad to help."
Mr McClay could not be reached for comment today.
|
