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Allegations of Abuse
in NZ |
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In early 2004, a woman made public allegations of rape
against a former police officer. She sent these allegations to the Prime
Minister. Within a day, the Prime Minister saw fit to publicly comment on the
allegations, saying "Believe me,
what was sent to me ...my hair stood on end." The Prime Minister
claimed that the allegations were the "final straw" when she considered the Government's response
to other allegations of rape against the police. And despite the fact that
the courts had already considered the investigation of the allegations, the
Prime Minister was responsible for including the claims into the terms of
reference for a Commission of Inquiry into police conduct. On 8 November 2006, the man was acquitted. Through superb
investigation the accused man was fortunate to overcome the hurdles of an
historical allegation and finding witnesses and evidence that would prove his
innocence. There is no doubt that the case only proceeded because the
Prime Minister had become involved and referred the case to the inquiry. As a
consequence a man was unnecessarily subjected to a long and arduous emotional
ordeal, and to financial ruin. "The Prime Minister should immediately issue an
apology to the man and his family for her political involvement in the
case", peterellis.org spokesperson Paula Weir says. "A sincere
apology could and should be accompanied by an offer of compensation for the
man's expenses". The Prime Minister and her legal advisors should also be
forcefully reminded that truthfulness is not necessarily correlated with how
far the hairs on a person's head stand on end. peterellis.org.nz;
"Seeking justice for Peter Ellis and other victims, both past and
present, of the New Zealand sex abuse moral panic" ENDS |
