Justice Minister Simon Power has declined a request for a Commission of Inquiry into the controversial Peter Ellis case. Wrongly imprisoned? Peter Ellis Ellis, a gay Christchurch childcare worker, was jailed in 1993 after being found guilty of sexually molesting children at the Christchurch Civic Crèche where he worked. He has always maintained his innocence, and has been battling to clear his name since his release from prison in 2000. A variety of legal experts and commentators believe his prosecution was "an anti-gay witch-hunt". Former National Party leader Don Brash, former front-bench MP Katherine Rich and Dunedin author Lynley Hood wrote to Power last year urging him to re-examine the case. "Though fifteen years have passed since the controversial conviction of Peter Ellis, disquiet over the Civic Creche case remains widespread and ongoing," the letter stated. But Power yesterday rejected the bid for a Commission of Inquiry, saying that Ellis has still not exhausted all his appeal rights - he could still go to the Privy Council. It is not appropriate for the Government to intervene while Ellis could still take legal action, he added. Responding to the decision, Ellis told The Christchurch Press: "I'm cross and devastated. I've done this for 18 years and I don't know if I've got another 18 in me."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Friday, 16th October 2009 - 11:32am