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This page last updated
March 19 2005
2003-1231 - Otago Daily
Times - University degree
by Suzanne George - I strongly question Ms Hood's biased view, based on my
reading of her book. I readily found what I regard as discrepancies in her
research, apparent deeply offensive bias and inhumanity towards her own
gender and sexually abused childsren, the main academic failure being to
acknowledge the discovery of a child sex ring operating in both Christchurch
and Dunedin in 1984
2003-1229 - NZ
Herald - Children denied justice in court
by Emma Davies - Children's and adults' memories fade over time. We are quick
to discredit children's credibility. We are slow to address the year-long
delays between children making their videoed statements and cross-examination
at trial. In the context of the Ellis case, some are loud in their demand for
justice and truth. Their focus is highly selective. There is deafening
silence about the injustice of the way children are treated in our courts.
2003-1227 - The Press - The
Year in Pictures
Photo:
Don Scott - More than 10 years after the bizarre Christchurch Civic Creche
case -- and three years after former creche worker Peter Ellis finished his
jail sentence for sex abuse convictions arising from the case -- Ellis again
found himself the reluctant centre of attention.
2003-1226 - Dominion
Post - [No Published Headline]
David
Bain, who lost his second appeal against his convictions for the 1994 murders
of his mother, father and siblings, has a few things in common with Peter
Ellis…... Both maintain their innocence, both lost two appeals in the Court
of Appeal, both were tried before the same judge, Justice Williamson, and
they were both in Christchurch's Paparua Prison for a time
2003-1224 - NZ
Herald - Edwards show complaints rejected
NZPA - Complaints from Dunedin author Lynley Hood and Act MP Rodney Hide about
the Edwards at Large television programme have not been upheld by the
Broadcasting Standards Authority.
2003-1223 -
Stuff - Complaints against Edwards not upheld by BSA
NZPA - Complaints from Dunedin author Lynley Hood and Act MP Rodney Hide
about the Edwards at Large television programme have not been upheld by the
Broadcasting Standards Authority……[Hood] claimed Edwards' political
affiliations had prejudiced his view of the sex abuse case against former
creche worker Peter Ellis and said he breached broadcasting standards on
balance, impartiality and fairness.
2003-1215 -
Timaru Herald - Artist intends to excite or annoy
"One
has a responsibility as an artist to jolt people a bit and excite or
annoy", according to local artist Mike Armstrong…….Armstrong says many
of the images in Dirty Dolly, Mummy refer to Lynley Hood's documentation of
the Ellis trial in A City Possessed. "It is to do with the scapegoat and
the herd mentality that underlie the situation."
2003-1212 - NZ
Parliament - Justice and Electoral Select Committee
The
main focus of the committee's meeting on 10 December was the hearing of
evidence on petitions presented respectively by Lynley Hood, Dr Donald Brash
and 807 others, and Gaye Davidson and 3,346 others
2003-1212 - Otago
Daily Times - Books earn Hood degree
by
John Gibb - The University of Otago is awarding Lynley Hood a doctorate
despite a warning the move could prove controversial because of the author's
stance on the Peter Ellis case. Hood, an award-winning Dunedin writer, said
she was "absolutely delighted" to be receiving a doctor of
literature degree tomorrow. …..The university has awarded honorary doctorates
to several distinguished writers but Otago doctorates earned for published
research are believed to be rare among such writers.
2003-1211 - Otago Daily Times - CYF
by
Suzanne George - I feel that CYF, the Civic Creche children and I are being
made scapegoats by Katherine Rich…….(Earlier
report by Katherine Rich also included, which makes no reference to the Civic
Creche children)
2003-1211 -
Daily News - Ellis case 'poisoned by toxic delusion'
by Leah Haines - MPS began hearing arguments yesterday from high-profile New
Zealanders calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis
case. ……Asked by committee chairman Tim Barnett how it was possible that the
original jury, courts of appeal and high court judges had got it so wrong, Ms
Hood said that was typical of the "top to bottom" failures in gross
miscarriages of justice.
2003-1211
- Otago Daily Times - Ellis case MPs told interview style changed
by Sharon Lundy, of NZPA - Wellington: MPs considering whether to hold a
royal commission of inquiry into the Peter Ellis case yesterday heard of a
"sea change" in the way child sex abuse victims are
interviewed………….Yesterday, one of his supporters, international expert in
child suggestibility Maryanne Garry, told the committee of a "sea
change" in opinion on the way child victims were questioned………. "We
don't use techniques that we know now are dangerous, in the same way we wouldn't
be putting asbestos in buildings any more. It was fine then. It's not fine
now."
2003-1211 -
Dominion Post - MPs hear Ellis case arguments
by Leah Haines - MPs began hearing arguments yesterday from high-profile New Zealanders
calling for a royal commission of inquiry into the Peter Ellis case. ……..
Asked by committee chairman Tim Barnett how it was possible that the original
jury, courts of appeal and High Court judges had got it so wrong, Ms Hood
said that was typical of the "top-to-bottom" failures in gross
miscarriages of justice.
2003-1211 -
Southland Tiimes - MPs weigh new Ellis case probe
by Leah Haines - Child memory expert and Victoria University lecturer Maryanne Garry
said the interviewing techniques used on the child complainants were
fundamentally flawed, even at the time they were used. Everyone was
susceptible to memory distortion but children were especially vulnerable, Dr
Garry said
2003-1210 -
Newstalk ZB - Ellis case under spotlight again
Parliament's Justice Committee begins its hearing to see if Royal Commission
of Inquiry is needed into Christchurch Civic Creche case………Today, Ms Hood has
likened the Peter Ellis case to that of the wrongful IRA bombing convictions
of the Birmingham Six and the Lindy Chamberlain case in Australia. She says
the Ellis case is also a top-to-bottom failure of the justice system.
2003-1210 - One News - Creche case
before select committee
A
select committee has heard submissions on whether concerns raised over the
Peter Ellis case warrant a royal commission of inquiry.
2003-1210 -
Newstalk ZB - Submissions on Ellis case
The
cases for and against a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis case
are to be made in Parliament today.
2003-1210 - NZ Herald -
Flaws in children's evidence says study
NZPA - The vast majority of child witnesses and young victims change their testimony
while giving evidence in court, university researchers have found. Otago
University psychologists found that 85 per cent of children involved in two
separate studies changed their stories when subjected to cross-examination.
They have concluded that questioning techniques used in courts are not
suitable for children.
2003-1209
- Otago Daily Times - Most child witnesses change testimony
by Joanna Norris - University of Otago psychologists have concluded
questioning techniques used in New Zealand courts are not suitable for
children, after up to 85% of children involved in two separate studies
changed their story when subjected to cross-examination. Dunedin author Lynley Hood, whose book A
City Possessed argues the testimony of children in the Peter Ellis sexual
abuse case was tainted in part by methods used to question the child
complainants, said the findings were not surprising
2003-1209 - NZPA - Child
witnesses change story under cross examination
NZPA - Otago University psychologists have concluded that questioning
techniques used in New Zealand courts are not suitable for children, after up
to 85 per cent of children involved in two separate studies changed their
story when subjected to cross examination. Dunedin author Lynley Hood, whose
book A City Possessed argues the testimony of children in the Peter Ellis
sexual abuse case was tainted in part by methods used to question the child
complainants, said the findings were not surprising.
2003-1208 - North
& South Jan 2004 - Those Who Made a Difference: Lynley Hood
Although
it was published two years ago A City
Possessed, Lynley Hood's meticulously researched and argued book of
investigative journalism about the Christchurch Civic Creche/Peter Ellis
child abuse case, continued to make waves in 2003
2003-1205 -
Parliament - Select Committee Press Release
Justice and Electoral Committee - The committee will meet next on Wednesday,
10 December ……
The main part of the committee’s meeting will be spent on the petition of
Lynley Hood on the Christchurch civic crèche case and its associated petition
2003-1203 - The Press - Colman
gives books to MPs in creche case
Media magnate Barry Colman has played Santa Claus for MPs investigating the
Christchurch Civic Creche case. Mr Colman this week bought 11 copies of
creche book A City Possessed for
members of Parliament's justice and electoral select committee.
2003-1202 -
Scoop - Peterellis.org offers financial aid to NZ Govt
Press Release - Peterellis.org offers to provide financial aid to the New
Zealand Government. Insufficient funds available to fund appropriate
investigation by the Justice Select Committee ….Peterellis.Org is therefore
making the generous offer to purchase the book "A City Possessed" for members of the select committee.
2003-1201 - Otago
Daily Times - Hood upset her book not required reading for MPs
NZPA - A controversial book on the Christchurch Civic Creche case is not
officially available to politicians investigating the need for a top-level
inquiry. Labour MP Tim Barnett, who chairs the justice and electoral select
committee, said no budget was available for items such as A City Possessed .
2003-1201 - The Press - Author
upset her book not required reading by MPs
A controversial book on the Christchurch Civic Creche case is not officially
available to politicians investigating the need for a top-level inquiry.
Labour MP Tim Barnett, who chairs the justice and Electoral select committee,
said no budget was available for items such as A City Possessed. …Dunedin author Lynley Hood was "totally
thunderstruck" to discover her book would not be required reading for
the 11 MPs.
2003-1130 - Sunday Star
Times - Democracy worries
by Ian McKissack - Two issues highlighted recently in the Sunday Star-Times
make me wonder about the health of democracy. They are the high level of
reasonable doubt about Peter Ellis's conviction and the callous and inept
treatment of Ahmed Zaoui. …….The heart of the matter is whether the democratic
process is designed to produce a government that rules over us, or a
collection of representatives who carry out the will of the people.
2003-1127 - NZ Herald - Two-parent
families still the best
by Garth George - responds to Davies and Read
2003-1126 - NZ Herald - Family
structure not key to stopping child abuse
by Emma Davies and John Read - Some of those behind the Peter Ellis petition
claim that the extent and consequences of child abuse, particularly sexual
abuse, are exaggerated. They offer images of over-zealous professionals
operating in a clandestine abuse industry.
2003-1115 - Listener (Nov
22) - Child Abuse and the experts
by Michael Corballis - It is time to stop the dissembling and ad-hominem
attacks, and address the real issue as to whether the evidence that led to
Peter Ellis's conviction was properly informed. Lynley Hood's excellent book
A City Possessed has little to do with the flatness of Christchurch, and her
adversaries would do well to actually read it.
2003-1113 - Dominion
Post - Evidence not always the key
by L Parker - ..... as with the Ellis case, new evidence is not always the
issue. Juries can get it wrong, especially in high-pressure trials, when worn
down by an extraordinary three-month barrage of detail and character
assassination of the defendant. ......The system might usually get it right,
but loyalty to institutional power, after the fact, can be suffocating.
2003-1113 - Daily News -
Watson Documentary
by Jeanette Robins - After watching the Watson documentary, reading Lynley
Hood's book about the Christchurch creche case, and Joe Karam's about the
Bain case, I am left with a real sense of sadness - but, greater than that, a
real sense of fear.
2003-1110 -
Southland Times - Lecture sets benchmark
by Patricia Soper - The Hallam Smith Memorial Lecture .....Thought-provoking
and at times hard-hitting, Dr Barton also touched on the controversial and
still-sensitive Christchurch Civic Creche case, the psychological
implications of solitary confinement and the little-publicised
responsibilities of the individual within our justice system.
2003-1101 - Listener, Nov 8 -
Child abuse and the experts
by Lynley Hood - John Read (Letters,
October 25) is desperate. He can find nothing of substance to attack in A
City Possessed. This is because I have got it right. I have demonstrated
beyond reasonable doubt that the pre-school scandal that ripped Christchurch
apart and threw the nation into turmoil was based on a bungled investigation
into a crime that never happened
2003-1100 - Auckland
Sexual Abuse Help - Guilty or Innocent - Is that the issue?
by Kathryn McPhillips - Lynley Hood suggests that a mass
hysteria she calls "sex abuse hysteria" influenced the investigation
and prosecution of the allegations of sexual abuse made against Peter Ellis.
She seems to suggest that this hysteria was promulgated by what she calls the
"sex abuse industry" (eg agencies like ASAH) and that it was
unwarranted. She supports these ideas with a selective presentation of the
research about sexual abuse and its consequences
2003-1031 -
Heather Roy MP - Christchurch Civic Crèche Case
by Heather Roy - Peter Ellis, in the end, was convicted of sexual abuse while
the wildly fantastic accusations of satanic abuse were withdrawn. At the
height of the inquiry all the hallmarks of mass hysteria were evident.
Several female co-workers were also charged although the charges were
dropped. Lynley Hood contends that the level of hysteria was so high that all
the charges against Ellis are suspect
2003-1018 - Listener Oct
25 - Teaching Anxiety
by Alison Jones - How the Peter Ellis case ensured that suspicion and
mistrust became guiding principles of teacher-pupil relations......It is no
wonder that Justice Minister Phil Goff refuses to entertain calls for a
commission of inquiry into the case of Peter Ellis. Remaining resolutely
distant on such a fraught and dangerous subject is nothing if not politically
canny.
2003-1018 -
Listener Oct 25 - Child abuse and the experts - by Fred Seymour
Michael Corballis ("Memory
& the law", September 13) presents clinical psychology in a
negative light, but fails to report facts that run contrary to his opinion.
2003-1018 -
Listener Oct 25 - Child abuse and the experts - by John Read
Lynley Hood (Letters, October 11) claims I
"misrepresented" her views about the relevance of Christchurch
being flat to the Ellis case, Her claim, like many of the claims in her book,
rests on citing, out of context, one small piece of reality
2003-1018 -
Listener Oct 25 - Child abuse and the experts - by Nancy Gillespie
During the High Court trial of Peter Ellis I listened with astonishment as
child psychiatrist Karen Zelas was asked if the behaviour of a particular
child was consistent or inconsistent with that of a sexually abused child.
2003-1017 - NZ Law Journal - In response
to Emma Davies and Jeffrey Masson
Felicity
Goodyear-Smith, the University of Auckland responds to criticism of A City Possessed in NZ Law Journal
Sept 2003
2003-1009 -
Jobs Letter - Wanted: Male Primary School Teachers
A report, commissioned by the NZEI has found that there are three reasons why
men are not joining the profession....................and 3) men are
concerned that as part of the job there will be physical contact with
children and that will put them at risk of being accused of sexual abuse. The
report refers to this as the “Peter Ellis syndrome”
2003-1008 - ODT - Day in the House
The
petition of Gaye Davidson and 3346 others requesting the establishment of a
Royal Commission of Inquiry into the child abuse convictions of Christchurch
Civic Creche worker Peter Ellis was tabled
2003-1007
- ODT - Second Peter Ellis petition attracts 3000 signatures
by
Chris Morris - Doubts over the case against former Christchurch Civic Creche
worker and convicted child molester Peter Ellis have prompted prominent
Dunedin and Otago people to join calls for an inquiry. More than 3000 people
across New Zealand, from former prime ministers to anarchists, have signed
the second petition calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Peter
Ellis sex abuse case.
2003-1007
- The Press - Second Ellis petition launched
by Anna Claridge - The campaign for an inquiry into the Peter Ellis
case hit the heart of Christchurch civic creche country yesterday.
......Big-name signatories include former Speaker and Government minister Sir
Peter Tapsell, Silver Fern Sandra Edge, musician Mike Chunn, and Christchurch
businesswoman Peri Drysdale. Ellis said yesterday that he was astounded at
the high profile backing and felt duty-bound to be at the launch. "It
would be rude not to be here," Peter Ellis told The Press. "A lot
of people have done a lot of work."
2003-1007 - NZ
Herald - 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
2003-1006 - The Press - Ellis case
by
Charles Kiewiet - Regarding Denis Dutton's article (September 13) concerning
the dangers of human memory with reference to the Peter Ellis case, I can relate
to it from personal experience. As a toddler I spent three years in a
Japanese concentration camp for women and children. .............Whereas the
Japanese were guilty of war crimes, I doubt that Peter Ellis abused the
children, and I support a royal commission to re-examine his case.
2003-1006 - Dominion
Post - Scoring the Exchanges (excerpt)
On
Monday, former Christchurch civic creche supervisor Gaye Davidson will
present a second petition
2003-1006
- One News - New Ellis petition delivered
A second petition calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the
Peter Ellis case has been presented in Christchurch ......A former colleague,
Gaye Davidson, presented the petition, which bears more than 3000 signatures,
to the National MPs Don Brash and Katherine Rich
2003-1005 - Sunday Star
Times - Ellis case a crock
by Bruce Morley - Geoff Levick's deconstruction of the "evidence"
in the Ellis case (September 28)
can be summed up succinctly in another way.Any sane observer knew that the
whole thing was a crock the moment that Ellis, the lone male, was the only
one left facing charges in a situation where clearly all were guilty or none
were.
2003-1005 - Sunday
Star Times - New editor for Star-Times
The Sunday Star-Times has a new editor - award-winning journalist Cate
Brett. Brett, deputy editor of The
Press in Christchurch, starts next month, succeeding Suzanne Chetwin.
2003-1005 - Sunday
Star Times - Keeping a low profile
He [Clem Simich] is somewhat of an enigma: ........... As police
minister he supported decriminalising marijuana, he supports getting rid of
the nuclear-powered ships ban, he signed the Peter Ellis petition, and he was
one of only six National MPs to vote for prostitution law reform this year
2003-1004 - ODT - 3000 sign
petition
NZPA - Children and parents associated with the former Christchurch Civic Creche
have signed a second petition calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into
the Peter Ellis sex abuse case
2003-1004 - Listener Oct 11
- Child abuse and the experts: Michael Corballis
by Michael Corballis - My colleague John Read (Letters, September 27)
evidently disagrees with my attempt to defend psychology against its poor
reputation in some quarters, and in so doing neatly illustrates the split
within our discipline, There are some signs, though, that the rift may be
beginning to heal, at least on the international front
2003-1004 - Listener Oct 11
- Child abuse and the experts: Lynley Hood
by Lynley Hood - Not for the first time, Dr John Read has
misrepresented my comments, To Brian Edwards's bizarre assertion
"What are you telling me here - that the flatness of the city gives us
some indication of the chances of Peter Ellis getting a fair trial?", I
replied, "No. I am not I am not making that leap at all."
2003-1004 - Listener Oct 11 -
Child abuse and the experts: Jacqueline Martin
by Jacqueline Martin - Two Wellington women have won Privy Council
backing to sue a social worker and psychologist who removed them from their
father in 1988 after false allegations of abuse. Even today Child, Youth and
Family workers remove children from their home on anonymous, opinion-based
and even false information,
2003-1004 - Listener Oct 11
- Child abuse and the experts: Robert O'Shea
by Robert O'Shea - Professor Corballis in "Memory & the
law" (September 13) is to be thanked for his clear analysis of the
issues for i psychology of the Peter Ellis case
2003-1004 - NZ
Herald - Creche children lobbying for Ellis
NZPA - Ms Rich said the second petition showed there was a
"growing groundswell" of concern about the Ellis conviction.
"Many people expressed a desire for a second petition as they wanted to
feel they had need to be involved," Ms Rich said.
2003-1003 -
NZPA - Second Ellis petition signed by creche kids
Children and parents associated with the former Christchurch Civic
Creche have signed a second petition calling for a Royal Commission of
Inquiry into the Peter Ellis sex abuse case.
Gaye Davidson, supervisor at the creche at the time of the sexual
abuse charges, will present the petition to National MPs Don Brash and
Katherine Rich in Christchurch on Monday.
2003-1003 -
Newstalk ZB - Another Ellis petition launched
A former Christchurch Civic Creche worker has launched a second
petition over the Peter Ellis case There is now a second petition calling for
a royal commission of enquiry into the Peter Ellis case. The petition,
sponsored by former Christchurch Civic Creche worker Gaye Davidson, follows
that organised by author Lynley Hood and National MPs Don Brash and Katherine
Rich.
2003-1002 - Dominion Post - To
the point
by Lynley Hood - Four sources used by Masson and Davies to support
their extravagant claims about the prevalence of child sexual abuse have been
discredited; the other two have been misrepresented. Even if their claims
were true, that would not make Peter Ellis guilty. Our justice system
determines guilt on reliable evidence and due process, not statistics.
2003-1002 - Daily News - Domain
danger
by John Leith - Honestly, with attitudes like [Helen Woollcot]'s
prevailing is it any wonder that Peter Ellis was so easily stitched up?
2003-1002 - The Press - Brett
named Editor
Press
deputy editor and award-winning journalist Cate Brett has been appointed
editor of the Sunday Star-Times. Ms Brett will take up the job in November
2003-1000 - Mensline -
The “Peter Ellis” Syndrome
With the release of a study this week by the NZ Educational Institute which
shows that men now make up less than 20 per cent of the male primary school
teaching force, a new cause has been identified as keeping men out of teaching
and causing them to leave - being seen
as a potential paedophile.
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