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The Christchurch Civic
Creche Case |
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Poneke’s Weblog December 22 2007 Professor Harlene Hayne’s landmark
research comparing the child interviews in the Christchurch Civic Creche case
with those in an officially discredited and similar American daycare abuse
case - first reported exclusively on this blog - could be the long-needed
turning point that achieves justice for Peter Ellis. His lawyer, Judith Ablett Kerr,
QC, wants to meet Justice Minister Annette King about it early in the New Year.
“I’d like to take Harlene Hayne’s
new material to the minister and talk to her about how we can advance things.
It’s in the interests of the integrity of the criminal justice system in this
country,” Ablett Kerr said. Annette King, given the justice
portfolio in the October 31 cabinet reshuffle, has no previous baggage in
this case and is one of the most astute members of Helen Clark’s ministry. She will also not have bureaucrat
Val Sim trying to deflect her from inside the Justice Ministry, as happened
when previous ministers Phil Goff and Doug Graham sought to help. Sim though
is still not without influence, as she is now a law commissioner and as such
reports to King. Ablett Kerr is also trying to get
the case before the Privy Council. In a letter to the editor of The Press
today (not online) Peter Ellis says doing that requires funding. “The Justice
Select Committee, chaired by Tim Barnett, in September 2005 recommended that
in principle the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General not oppose my seeking
leave to take my case to the Privy Council in London,” he writes. “Attempts
to gain the funding have been obstructed by bureaucracy at every turn.
Funding should be provided now to honour and give credibility to the select
committee’s decision. Anything less makes the process just another chapter of
farce.” Speaking to NZPA yesterday, Ablett
Kerr said: “Something needs to be done.” It most certainly does. Comments: Ross Francis December 22 2007; 08:37 “Annette King…is one of the most
astute members of Helen Clark’s ministry”. I’d hold fire on whether or not Ms
King is astute. If she takes the same position position as her predecessors,
I would not be at all surprised. And although Val Sim has left the
Justice Ministry, I wouldn’t presume for one moment that Annette King will be
getting independent advice from Ministry officials. It should be noted that
Michael Petherick, who was Sim’s right-hand man during Eichelbaum’s Inquiry,
is still employed by the Ministry and has a senior role there. |
