AI Chat Search Browse Media On This Day Map Quotations Timeline Research Free Datasets Remembered About Contact

Goff again says no to Ellis inquiry

Sun 3 Aug 2003 In: New Zealand Daily News

Justice Minister Phil Goff has again said no to a commission of inquiry over the Peter Ellis case, saying that the childrens testimonies published in nationwide Sunday papers this morning contain nothing that wasn't either heard by the jury or cross-examined. Children's Commissioner Roger McClay sought legal advice to stop publisher Barry Colman from releasing the testimonies, saying he had “grave concerns that the childrens rights are being breached”. The testimonies published today identifies each child only by a letter, and any other details contained in the transcripts that would identify each child have been censored. Contrary to Goff's assertions, nearly half of the published transcripts were not played to the jury. These transcripts contain bizarre and graphic allegations involving satanic ritual abuse in secret rooms and cages perpetrated by Ellis, Ellis' mother, female creche workers, and gangs of male friends of Ellis dressed in black suits with names such as “Bolderhead” and “Spike”. At one point during an interview not played to the jury, a child says, “Yeah, that's all I have to tell you because that's all I can remember."    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Sunday, 3rd August 2003 - 12:00pm

Rights Information

This page displays a version of a GayNZ.com article that was automatically harvested before the website closed. All of the formatting and images have been removed and some text content may not have been fully captured correctly. The article is provided here for personal research and review and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of PrideNZ.com. If you have queries or concerns about this article please email us