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The Peter
Ellis web site |
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This page last updated May 14 2007
A "Criminal Cases
Review Commission" must be put in place as soon as possible to rectify
miscarriages of justice, peterellis.org spokesperson Brian Robinson says. Such
a commission, recommended by Justice Thorp over a year ago has the backing of
Parliament's justice select committee, and was enthusiastically received by a
Law Conference over a year ago.
A high profile rape allegation
involving a home invasion was later revealed as a hoax. The hoax prompted
some academics to make statements minimising the problem of false
allegations, and even to make excuses for perpetrators of false
allegations. Peterellis.org.nz
responds to provide some balance to the myths being propagated
The New Zealand police launched 18
balloons in memory of 18 children who have died from abuse since 2002.
Peterellis.org.nz is extremely concerned that sex abuse zealots such as
Australian Freda Briggs is using such deaths to promote questionable sex
abuse programmes for pre school children.
New Procedures for interviewing
sex abuse complainants are being trialled by Wellington police - with the
admirable aims of making the process easier for complainants, and getting
better quality information. Peterellis.org.nz is however
concerned that the proposals may be detrimental to victims of false
allegations of sex abuse. Firstly the reports of the new
trial refers to sex abuse victims instead of sex abuse complainants,
illustrating a prejudicial approach to complaints. Secondly, police are, as a
matter of policy delaying interviewing complainants, and ignoring concerns
about contamination of evidence from sex abuse counsellors
In December 2006, an outbreak of
hysteria associated with the possibility of drink spiking, and drug rape
occurred. The reoccurrence of this urban myth appeared to originate from
Lorraine Jans, a New Plymouth extremist sex abuse counsellor. Peterellis.org.nz is concerned
that there was little intelligent scepticism of the reports, and for nearly a
week nobody questioned the validity of the scaremongering. It appears that individuals and
organisations are too frightened to question even the most outrageous claims,
for fear of offending the Rape Crisis lobby group. (Three months later the police
reported, as expected, no evidence of drugs other than alcohol, in any of the
supposed "drug rape" victims)
Frank Haden a veteran journalist
announced his enforced retirement due to illness. Peterellis.org.nz takes the
opportunity to thank Frank for his work, and in particular for his
willingness to speak his mind on the Christchurch Civic Creche case. Frank died in March 2007
In early 2004, Judith Garrett made
rape allegations against a former police officer. The allegations led to the Prime
Minister saying that the allegations made her "hair stand on end",
and even included the claims into the terms of reference for a commission of
Inquiry into police conduct. The case went to trial, despite
the man's lawyer suggesting there was insufficient evidence. The man was
fortunately able to overcome the hurdles of an historical allegation and
finding witnesses and evidence that would prove his innocence, and make a
"Not Guilty" verdict inevitable. Peterellis.org.nz considers that
the Prime Minister owes an apology to the acquitted man (Five months later, the Prime
Minister did the opposite, referring to Judith Garrett as a "brave"
woman for making her allegations)
Considerable publicity surrounded
the pardons of three soldiers who were executed during the 1914-18 war. Peterellis.org.nz applauds the
pardons, but makes the point that pardons are far more meaningful if they are
given within a person's lifetime, coupled with ample compensation. The
government should consider the Peter Ellis injustice far more seriously. He
deserves a remedy within his lifetime, and not a century later.
The Australian courts have
permitted extradition of two clergymen to New Zealand to face sex charges.
Extradition had previously been stopped by Australian Justice Madgwick in a
lower court. Peterellis.org.nz hopes that our
justice system will heed Madgwick's concerns that the men may not receive a
fair trial in New Zealand.
The government has provided some
compensation to three girls who, as teenagers, were jailed for a serious
crime that they did not commit. Peterellis.org.nz, considers the
compensation offer miserly, sexist and racist
The NZ Educational Institute has
released a new code of conduct for teachers. Teachers are now permitted to
touch children if appropriate. Such permission was denied in the aftermath of
the Peter Ellis case Peterellis.org.nz considers the
new policy sensible, but gives little cause for celebration. The underlying
causes for the lack of confidence for men entering the profession is still
ignored. An inquiry into the Christchurch
Civic creche case is more important than ever. Lord Cooke has obviously been an
influential member of New Zealand's judiciary. Peterellis.org.nz notes his
involvement in the Peter Ellis case and reflects that all judges are still
only human, and are capable of making unfortunate judgments
A Wellington teacher was sent to
trial, which ended abruptly when the judge determined that to continue the
trial could only have provided a chance of a miscarriage of justice. Peterellis.org.nz says that while
sex abuse is a very serious crime and should be treated seriously, this is no
excuse for the police to make charges frivolously. It appears as if police
are too frightened to consider not taking a sex case to trial, even with
cases which have no chance of leading to a conviction, for fear of criticism
from rape crisis advocates.
Rape Crisis is calling for law
changes that will make convictions easier to be obtained. The impetus appears
to come from the Louise Nicholas case, in which she made rape allegations
despite clear evidence presented that she had consensual sex. Peterellis.org.nz is concerned
that Rape Crisis appears to have no concerns about the possibility of
injustice occurring to innocent people who are falsely accused. Their
one-eyed advocacy undermines any credibility they may have.
Australian judge Rodney Madgwick
has delivered a verdict that effectively says that those accused of
historical sex abuse allegations in New Zealand are unable to get a fair
trial. This judgment follows the recent petition associated with the
Christchurch Creche case concerned with similar issues Peterellis.org.nz renews calls for
a commission of inquiry to take place urgently. Sex abuse is a terrible
crime, but countering such abuse is not advanced by locking up innocent men,
or condoning a system that has been branded by Judge Madgwick as "unjust
and oppressive"
New Police Commissioner Howard
Broad has started his job, hoping to restore public confidence in the police
force Peterellis.org.nz reminds the
public that Howard Broad is compromised by his own past, and in particular
his involvement in the Peter Ellis case. Howard Broad has never apologised to
any of the Christchurch Creche staff for his own actions in unnecessarily
destroying their careers and reputations.
Another historical sex allegation
is played out in the courts. Peterellis.org.nz reflects on this
modern day gladiator fight. The process means that the verdict will always be
a lottery. , The high chance that an injustice has been done belittles our
justice system. Those affected by an injustice pay a terrible price. The
rules associated with such cases need urgent reform
A moral panic began about the
possibility of bus drivers abusing their young passengers, prompting
significant law changes banning anybody with a conviction for sex offences to
be banned - ignoring drivers who have been driving for 30 years with no
problems and ignoring some minor offences. Peterellis.org.nz says that sex
abuse is a serious offence, but surely those guilty of historical consensual
sex with a girl two days short of her 16th birthday, should not be treated as
worse than murderers?
The Radio NZ National programme
host for the morning programme, Linda Clark has resigned. Peterellis.org.nz welcomes the
resignation, and suggests the resignation was inevitable following Clark's
involvement in the breach of Broadcasting standards, in which Radio New
Zealand had to apologise to Peter Ellis.
Air New Zealand's policy of
banning unaccompanied children from sitting next to men has been exposed, and
provoked considerable public debate. Peterellis.org.nz says the policy
is another example of the irrational fears that have pervaded our society for
the last couple of decades. The consequences of sex abuse hysteria are
damaging our society.
Peterellis.org.nz endorses the
introduction of Black Ribbon day that highlights previously neglected justice
concerns. PeterEllis.org.nz is an organisation committed to the end of
violence in all it's forms, and in particular highlights the existing
epidemic of false allegations of sexual abuse that should concern all New
Zealanders
Chairman of the Justice Select
Committee has announced that the NZ Government has "insufficient
funds" to provide the Committee with the book "A City
Possessed". The committee members are instead being provided a
"brief summary" of the book while they consider the issues raised
in the book. In the interests of justice.
Peterellis.org.nz offers financial assistance to the NZ Government, so that
the Select Committee is able to carry out it's job effectively. |
