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NZ Herald
October 7, 2003
Ellis petition back where it all began
NZPA
The campaign for an inquiry into the Peter Ellis
case hit the heart of Christchurch civic creche country yesterday.
A second petition led by former creche supervisor Gaye Davidson was handed
over at Canterbury
University in front of
Ellis supporters, including former creche workers, law professors, and Ellis
himself.
The 3000-signature petition - the second put forward by National MPs
Katherine Rich and Don Brash - calls for a royal commission of inquiry into
the child-abuse convictions of creche worker Ellis.
Signatories include former Speaker and Government minister Sir Peter Tapsell,
Silver Fern Sandra Edge, musician Mike Chunn, and Christchurch businesswoman Peri Drysdale.
"This is an issue that isn't going to go away and any justice minister
would be a fool to ignore [these names]," Mrs Rich told Ellis
supporters.
Justice Minister Phil Goff has said he needs "fresh evidence"
before he will launch an inquiry.
Nine creche children and 17 creche parents signed the second petition, along
with the man at the centre of New Zealand's most talked-about judicial
travesty, Arthur Allan Thomas, whose double murder conviction was overturned
after he spent nine years in jail.
Twenty-seven members of Parliament have also signed the petitions.
Ellis and his mother, Lesley, said they were astounded at the high-profile
backing.
Former creche parents had recently contacted Ellis on behalf of their
children who had asked to pass on their regards to their former carer.
The petition's fate lies with Parliament's justice and electoral select
committee.
Ellis, a Christchurch
civic creche childcare worker, was convicted of child abuse and sentenced to
10 years' jail in 1993.
After almost seven years he was freed, in 2000, having always maintained his
innocence.
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