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The
Christchurch Civic Creche Case |
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Dunedin author Lynley
Hood is not concerned about a lack of detail in a National Party promise of
an inquiry into the case of Peter Ellis. National leader Don
Brash promised an inquiry last week in an e-mail to Christchurch-based Ellis
supporter, music tutor Richard Christie. In 2003, Dr Brash began
a petition calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the matter, but he
has stopped short of promising such an inquiry if National gains power after
the next election. A spokeswoman said
yesterday he was "not in a position to elaborate on the form any inquiry
would take". She said Dr Brash had
not had the opportunity to take advice, or discuss the matter with his caucus
colleagues. Dr Hood wrote A City
Possessed, an award-winning book documenting the controversy surrounding
Ellis, who was controversially convicted of child abuse in the 1990s, partly
on the basis of several contested testimonies from very young children. Dr Hood said yesterday
she thought it "entirely reasonable" that Dr Brash did not commit
himself to detail. "I think my
impression of him is he's very firm about wanting something done." A commission would be
the best outcome for Mr Ellis, she said. "It needs to be a
proper commission of inquiry headed by an overseas judge." Parliament's justice select
committee is holding an inquiry into Ellis' case and is expected to announce
its findings before the election. Ellis was released in
2000. |
