|
|
The
Christchurch Civic Creche Case |
|
|
|
|
The National Party will
order an inquiry into the Peter Ellis civic creche case if elected to Government,
leader Don Brash has pledged. Dr Brash made the
promise in an email to Christchurch-based Ellis supporter, music tutor
Richard Christie. Dr Brash told Mr
Christie, "If National is successful in forming a Government after the
election, I do intend that there be a full inquiry into the circumstances of
Peter Ellis' conviction". Two years ago the
National Party leader and Dunedin-based list MP Katherine Rich started a
petition calling for a royal commission of inquiry into the child-abuse
convictions of creche worker Ellis. The justice select
committee is considering what kind of inquiry should be held into Ellis' case
and is expected to announce its findings before the election. Ellis' lawyer, Judith
Ablett Kerr, QC, said she and Ellis would be "most happy" when they
had written confirmation of a royal commission of inquiry into the case. Dr Brash did not
specify what form an inquiry under a National government would take, but his
justice spokesman, Richard Worth, offered one possibility. Mr Worth said an option
was to have an overseas judge review the history of events and evidence, with
the authority to order the Government to issue a pardon and make reparations.
Mr Worth, who is a
member of the justice select committee considering an Ellis inquiry, said
that due to strict secrecy requirements he could not comment on whether that
was an option being considered. Dr Brash said in last
week's email to Mr Christie that both he and Mr Worth felt the select
committee had taken too long to deliver a finding on what kind of inquiry was
needed. "He [Mr Worth] and
I have both been concerned at the process which the committee has followed
and the delays which have ensued." Mr Christie said he had
contacted Dr Brash because he wanted to know what would happen to Ellis'
chances of an inquiry under National. He supported Ellis
because he felt the creche worker had not received a fair hearing. "I
thought there was something wrong about the case and that there was a high
chance he was innocent." |
