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Otago Daily Times
September 22, 2003
Thomas backs Ellis inquiry
'Important justice be seen to be done'
NZPA
Christchurch: Arthur Allan Thomas is backing a call for a Royal Commission of
Inquiry into the Peter Ellis affair.
Mr Thomas, his wife Jennifer, and other family members have signed a second
petition demanding a wider inquiry into the handling of the Christchurch
Civic Creche child-abuse case.
Mr Thomas, who was at the centre of New Zealand's most talked-about judicial
travesty, said the conviction of Ellis was as close to his own miscarriage of
justice as any case he had seen.
He urged Justice Minister Phil Goff to "look, seek and find out".
"This will go on and on until something is done," Mr Thomas said.
"It happened in my case and it's happening again."
The Waikato farmer was twice convicted of
murdering Jeanette and Harvey Crewe at their Pukekawa farm house on June 17,
1970.
Mr Thomas served nine years in prison, but was pardoned after an inquiry
found police had planted evidence incriminating him. In 1980, he received $1
million compensation.
Speaking from his Taupiri farm yesterday, Mr Thomas said justice was
"the most important thing in the world", and the New Zealand
public was not satisfied that it had been served in the Ellis case.
"It is very important that justice must be seen to be done. Justice for
you and I and the public. If people in New Zealand cannot see that
justice has been done, then an inquiry must be called.
"From what I have seen, and what I have heard, I am not satisfied that
justice has been done . . . There are no ifs, no buts. Get it done."
Mr Thomas said Ellis needed to "stay strong" and eventually an
inquiry would "bring things out".
He had not read author Lynley Hood's book on the case, A City Possessed , but
had followed developments since Ellis's conviction in 1993.
Asked if he could give some words of advice to Ellis, Mr Thomas said:
"Chin up Peter, chin up."
National MPs Katherine Rich and Don Brash have already presented to
Parliament one high-profile petition calling for a Royal Commission of
Inquiry.
Those to sign included former prime ministers David Lange and Mike Moore,
retired High Court judge Laurie Greig and law professors from throughout New Zealand.
That petition is at present before Parliament's justice and electoral select
committee.
Mr Goff has rebuffed the petition, saying he needs fresh evidence before he
can launch an inquiry.
Mrs Rich said yesterday she approached Mr Thomas to sign the second petition
and he was "delighted" to help.
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