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This page last
updated July 24 2006
2005-1200 - Bell Gully Law -
BSA: RNZ v Peter Ellis
The High Court has recently considered the ambit of the Broadcasting
Standards Authority's jurisdiction to order a broadcaster to apologise when
it has breached the Codes of Broadcasting Practice. The Court also considered
the BSA's obligation to comply with natural justice when imposing sanctions
on broadcasters for breaches of the Code
2005-1200 - Aust-NZ
Law & History Society - Peter Ellis
Abstract of paper by Lynley Hood - This paper examines recent changes in New
Zealand laws and procedures for the investigation and prosecution of sexual
offences that have transformed child molestation into crimen exceptum, with
particular reference to the Ellis case
2005-1124 -
peterellis.org - Ending Violence - Black and White Ribbons
The PeterEllis web site www.peterellis.co.nz
has long highlighted the existing epidemic of false allegations of sexual
abuse that should concern all New Zealanders. News reports say that police
have charged 290 people, mainly women, with this offence in just the last
year. The actual number of perpetrators may be expected to be considerably
larger, with devastating consequences for their victims
2005-0916 - West Coast Times
- Radio NZ's Peter Ellis appeal dismissed
Radio New Zealand has lost an appeal against a Broadcasting Standards
Authority ruling that it apologise to convicted child molester Peter Ellis…..
Radio NZ accepted the finding that the story lacked fairness and balance but
objected to the order to say sorry.
2005-0916 - Otago Daily Times -
Radio NZ loses Ellis apology appeal
Radio New Zealand has lost an appeal against a Broadcasting Standards
Authority ruling that it apologise to convicted child molester Peter Ellis.
2005-0916 - NZ Herald - RNZ must say
sorry to Ellis
Radio New Zealand has lost an appeal against a Broadcasting Standards
Authority ruling that it apologise to convicted child molester Peter Ellis……
The order for an apology and publication of a summary of the authority's
decision in four major daily newspapers was the result of finding that
National Radio's Nine to Noon programme in August 2003 was not fair and
balanced. A man interviewed on the programme had made new allegations against
Mr Ellis.
2005-0916 - Dominion Post - RNZ
loses apology appeal
Radio New Zealand has lost an appeal against a Broadcasting Standards
Authority ruling that it say sorry to convicted child molester Peter Ellis.
The broadcaster appealed against the ruling, saying that to be ordered to say
sorry, when it was not, amounted to dishonesty.
2005-0908 - News Room - Peter
Ellis to appeal to Privy Council
The lawyer representing the convicted child abuser, Peter Ellis, says her
client will appeal to the Privy Council regardless of whether the Solicitor
General supports or opposes the application. …….Mr Ellis's lawyer, Judith
Ablett-Kerr…..says Mr Ellis's legal team plans to draft a petition within a
month at their own expense and expect the Privy Council hearing will start
next year.
2005-0908 - Dominion Post -
Radio NZ resists order to apologise
Radio NZ is contesting a Broadcasting Standards Authority ruling that it say
sorry to convicted child molester Peter Ellis. Radio NZ's lawyer, Peter
McKnight, said yesterday that an apology was a voluntary expression of
contrition and to order Radio NZ to say sorry to Mr Ellis, when it was not,
amounted to dishonesty.
2005-0908 - The Press - RNZ: no
Ellis apology
Radio NZ is contesting a Broadcasting Standards Authority ruling that it say
sorry to convicted child molester Peter Ellis……. The order for an apology,
and publication of a summary of the authority's decision in major newspapers,
was the result of a finding that an August 2003 programme was not fair and
balanced.
2005-0907 - The Press - Truth
starts to bite
by Nancy Sutherland - At the bottom of Tighe Instone's go at critics of the
Ellis case (August 25) is not shoddy research by Lynley Hood, but the truth
starting to bite. This is clear from the select committee's recommendations
for Privy Council referral, a criminal cases review body, attention to legal
aid quality and accessibility and reviewed practices over evidence and
psychological expertise. It is also clear from National promising an inquiry
2005-0906 - Newstalk ZB -
"Serious" concerns over Ellis appeal
The lawyer representing convicted sex offender Peter Ellis is describing
actions being taken by the Solicitor General as serious and disturbing .The
Solicitor General has responded to a letter written by Judith Ablett-Kerr,
after a parliamentary select committee cleared the way for him to appeal his
conviction to the Privy Council.
2005-0906 - Otago Daily Times -
Another setback for Ellis supporters
by Rebecca Fox - The case of convicted sex abuser Peter Ellis has hit another
setback as the solicitor general “defies“ parliamentary select committee
recommendations, his lawyer Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, of Dunedin, says.
2005-0906 - The Press - Ellis fails
to win support as appeals complaint raised
by Joanna Davis - A complaint about the Solicitor-General's attitude to a
parliamentary select committee recommendation on Peter Ellis's appeal has
failed to get backing from the committee's chairman. The justice and
electoral select committee recommended last month that the Attorney-General
not oppose a bid by Ellis to appeal to the Privy Council
2005-0906 - Dominion Post
- Ellis findings 'defied'
The solicitor-general is defying a select committee call for the Peter Ellis
child abuse case to be fast-tracked to the Privy Council, the former
childcare worker's lawyer says. Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC, said last night she
had received a letter from the solicitor-general saying an application for
leave to appeal to the Privy Council would be treated the same as any other
and legal aid was not being approved.
2005-0906 - The Press - Not proof
by Tighe Instone - I'd like to point out to R. Christie (Sept 2) that
"dozens of overwhelmingly positive reviews" are not proof that
Lynley Hood's theory about a witch hunt, driven by feminists and culminating
in the Christchurch Civic Creche case, is necessarily correct.
2005-0905 - The Press -
Strange letter
by Jonathon Harper - What a strange letter from Tighe Instone. She says that
I was "employing that particular book" (A City Possessed, by Lynley Hood) to support my published
assertion that Peter Ellis was a victim of hysteria. I quoted directly from
Hood's recent statements, not her book
2005-0902 - The Press -
Minority Support
by R Christie - Ms Instone's prominently placed letter (August 25) based its
arguments on the views expressed in one of only two negative - out of dozens
of overwhelmingly positive - reviews of Lynley Hood's A City Possessed, the other negative being that of Val Sim, legal
adviser to Phil Goff
2005-0902 - The Press - Justice
shake-up call
by Bernard Robertson - Whoever the next government is, it will have to face
up to some immediate problems in law and justice, and then deal with some
longer-term problems as well. The first challenge is the question of an
inquiry into not only the Peter Ellis case but also every case in the last 16
years in which evidence has been given by psychologists under section
23G(2)(c) of the Evidence Act
2005-0831 - Dominion Post -
Peter Ellis
by Alan Wilkinson - So long now after those sadly mismanaged events in
Christchurch there is little chance of proving to everyone's satisfaction
what happened. The best that can be done is to recognise that the convictions
were wholly unsafe because of the lack of any physical evidence whatsoever,
the reliance by the court on very young children's evidence obtained in ways
that would be inadmissible and unacceptable today…..
2005-0825 - The Press - In a few
words
by Dorothea Herron - Maybe The Press could be slightly kinder to Peter Ellis
and not refer to him as “convicted paedophile”. Give him a break – his life
is ruined.
2005-0825 - The Press - Ellis
verdict critics on weak ground
by Tighe Instone - I cannot say definitively that Peter Ellis is innocent or
guilty of the crimes he has been convicted of but neither can Jonathon
Harper, Martin van Beynen or Lynley Hood. Only Ellis and the children can do
that. Harper believes that Ellis and others are "victims of
hysteria" and van Beynen refers to "the formidable Lynley
Hood" and her "meticulous book"
2005-0822 - Dominion Post -
Here's the real witch hunt
by Linley Boniface - Ellis' case has so far been through a jury trial, two
high court appeals, a ministerial inquiry and, most recently, a parliamentary
inquiry. He has been given an extraordinarily fair deal by the justice
system. But Tom and Katrina, and the other children Ellis is convicted of
abusing? They've been mocked, slandered, dismissed, ridiculed, and stripped
of their right to speak. Now that's what I call a witch hunt.
2005-0820 - The Press - Justice
dealt Ellis a grave disservice
 by Martin van Beynen - Ellis is
fortunate to have people like the formidable Lynley Hood, who wrote a meticulous
book on the case, called A City Possessed, on his side. In a way, Hood's book
was the commission of inquiry so long sought. Unfortunately, it was weakened
by a tone of such outrage that you had to wonder if Hood was being fair. But
the creche case will always excite strong views and it is extremely difficult
to remain objective and impartial. That doesn't help Peter Ellis
Peter Ellis
2005-0818 - John Monro Blog - Comment
on the Justice and Electoral Committee Report
by John Monro - While this is very disappointing, the committee have admitted
that there are many aspects of the Peter Ellis trial with which they are
uncomfortable, and have made quite a number of recommendations because of
these concerns. It is a shame that the logical conclusion of these concerns,
the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry, was not then forthcoming.
2005-0817 - The Press - Ellis
faces long wait for justice
by Jonathon Harper - The select committee report into the Christchurch civic
creche case is just another stop in a slow train for justice. Undoubtedly it will be at least a few more
years before a full and proper examination of this bizarre case will settle
the widespread disquiet surrounding Ellis and other victims of hysteria in
New Zealand.
  
(From left)
Don
Brash promising an
inquiry
Tim
Barnett review committee options
Lynley
Hood wants royal commission
Peter
Ellis: Most commentators say a
Privy Council appeal would be unlikely to succeed. Photos:
Kirk Hargreaves
2005-0815 - Dominion Post - A
lingering casualty
by Anthony Frith - Parliament's Justice and Electoral Commission committee,
in being asked to consider a commission of inquiry into the conviction of
Peter Ellis for child molestation, has recommended everything but. While
rejecting that bid, it has nonetheless produced an overwhelming raft of
recommendations for changes to legislation amounting to a clear admission
that, in cases where the sexual abuse of children is alleged, the justice
system stacks the odds against the defendant, turning trials into
inquisitions
2005-0813 - Otago Daily Times - Ellis
faces anxious wait on recommendations
by Stu Oldham - Convicted sex abuser Peter Ellis faces an anxious wait as
Solicitor-general Terence Arnold QC considers recommendations that could
clear the way for an appeal to the Privy Council. Dunedin lawyer Judith
Ablett-Kerr QC has asked Attorney-general Michael Cullen whether he would act
upon a justice and electoral select committee recommendation not to oppose Mr
Ellis’ application for leave to appeal.
2005-0813 - The Press - Anxious
wait for Ellis
NZPA - Convicted sex abuser Peter Ellis faces an anxious wait as
Solicitor-General Terence Arnold considers recommendations that could clear
the way for an appeal to the Privy Council. Dunedin lawyer Judith
Ablett-Kerr, QC, has asked Attorney-General Michael Cullen whether he would
act upon a justice and electoral select committee recommendation not to
oppose Ellis's application for leave to appeal
2005-0813 - NZ Herald - Lawyer
pushes for Ellis Privy Council appeal
NZPA - The lawyer for convicted childcare worker Peter Ellis has asked
Attorney-General Michael Cullen whether he will accept a parliamentary
recommendation that the way be cleared for Ellis to appeal to the Privy
Council. …… The committee rejected a requested royal commission but
recommended the Attorney-General not oppose Ellis' new application for leave
to appeal to the Privy Council
2005-0812 - Otago Daily Times -
Decision compounds failure of criminal justice system
by Chris Trotter - There is something truly horrifying about this failure of
our judicial system. Not only did it condemn a man whose guilt was in more
than reasonable doubt to 10 years in prison, but it conferred upon Peter
Ellis’s accusers an undeserved and entirely spurious credibility. The groups
responsible for the "witch craze" that we know as the Christchurch
Civic Creche child abuse scandal: all those "ritual abuse"
peddlers, "recovered memory" counsellors, "all men are
rapists" feminists, "children never lie" social workers and
"Satan is among us" Christian fundamentalists, have never been
called to account.
2005-0812 -
peterellis.org - Eichelbaum report flaky
by Nancy Sutherland - The Minister of Justice Phil Goff has so far upheld the
report by Sir Thomas Eichelbaum, of February 2001, over the safety of the
convictions against Peter Ellis, as the last word in the long-running saga of
the Christchurch Civic ‘crèche’ case. Despite this the Justice and Electoral
Select Committee has not accepted this entirely and has made new
recommendations
2005-0810 - Tim
Barnett Blog - Select Committee reports
by Tim Barnett -
Peter Ellis' guilt? - We pressured for a new appeal route to be opened up to
him
The use of childrens evidence? - Amend the Evidence Bill
Access to a trial lawyer of choice? - Look at availability of legal aid
Concern at the outdated methods of examining alleged miscarriages of
justice? - Set up an equivalent to the
UKs Criminal Cases Review Authority
I am proud of this report. It was criticised from all sides. I am sure that I
sound like a dumbarse politician when I say that suggests we may just have
got it right?
2005-0815
- Tim Barnett Blog - History will be the judge
New July 24 2006
by Richard Christie - The Privy Council option owes nothing to your
committee. It's a poison chalice. The PC will only look at previously
examined material (severely limited in ambit) perhaps with the exception of
changes to the s23G evidence act. Your timing in regard to the delivery
report is craven. I wish you could read my lips: History will be the judge of
your ethics in this effort.
2005-0815 - Tim Barnett
Blog - Avoided the main issue
New July 24 2006
by Bill Wright - You have avoided the main issue in the case, namely that
apart from evidence that Peter Ellis worked at the Creche, no other credible
evidence was adduced at the trial. There was no tangible evidence of soiling
or damage to clothing or person following the alleged scatological incidents,
no clinical evidence of the physical injury that might be expected from the
activities alleged, no corroboration. There was much to suggest that
opportunity never existed and that the bizarre activities alleged, had they
occurred, could not have remained undetected
2005-0815 - Tim
Barnett Blog - The meat of the issues
New July 23 2006
by Nancy Sutherland - you have only set up a relay of delay processes
that don't strongly enough suggest exactly how any political input could work
to address the meat of the issues in the Civic case. One main one being the
polarisation amongst psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists over issues
around ‘evidence’ and how this deleteriously infiltrated agencies and
authorities including police (and still does).
2005-0823 - Tim
Barnett Blog - Responses to this blog are interesting
New July 24 2006
by Tim Barnett - The responses to this blog are, to say the least,
interesting. Many come from people who have puts skills and energy into the
fight around this case, yet few understand the constraints which Select
Committees are under, nor the careful way in which we designed the
recommendations
2005-0825 - Tim
Barnett Blog - Commission of Inquiry
New July 24 2006
by Ross Francis - The Justice Ministry has said that a commission will
probably not get to the truth and is unlikely to satisfy public doubts.
Nonsense. A commission of inquiry could hear expert testimony from the likes
of Bruck, Ceci, Loftus, Poole, etc. If such experts testified that the
children's testimony was contaminated to the point of unreliability, that the
interviewing techniques did not employ scientific principles and were not
forensic, that the case had similarities with many other mass allegation
creche cases of the 80s, would that not be significant?
2005-0825 - Tim
Barnett Blog - Officials in Justice Department
New July 24 2006
by Nancy Sutherland - It would appear that some officials in the justice
dept, a dept which has been highly associated with matters worked to prevent
the resolution of this case so far (including by omission of the Thorp report
from the reference materials for the Eichelbaum inquiry - it has a different
line of approach in psychological terms than the prevailing orthodoxy does),
would be against a Royal Commission. If so, the reason that the committee
came to this conclusion, too, can be assumed.
2005-0810 - Timaru Herald -
Case will not die
Editorial - There will never be universal finality in the Peter Ellis child molestation
case. And more likely than not, the perceived injustice will ultimately rest
with Ellis and his supporters………. All of which suggests the committee is
having a dollar each way, and while the playing field may be improved for
others facing child molestation charges, that won't benefit Peter Ellis
2005-0810 - Otago Daily Times - Peter
Ellis findings a ‘cop out’
A high profile group of Christchurch lawyers has slammed parliamentary
findings into the Peter Ellis Civic Creche case. Christchurch lawyer David Ruth, spokesman
for legal advocacy group Just Cause, said the response of the justice and
electoral select committee to a petition calling for an inquiry into the
historic sexual abuse case was a “cop-out”.
2005-0810 - The Press - Lawyers
label Ellis report a 'cop-out'
Christchurch
lawyer, David Ruth
A high-profile group of Christchurch lawyers has slammed parliamentary findings
into the Peter Ellis civic creche case. Christchurch lawyer David Ruth,
spokesman for legal advocacy group Just Cause, said the response of the
justice and electoral select committee to a petition calling for an inquiry
into the sexual-abuse case was a "cop-out"
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