Ellis to lodge fourth bid for a pardon

Peter Ellis spent seven years in jail after being found guilty of abusing children. Photo / Otago Daily Times

After almost 20 years and many setbacks in his quest to clear his name, you might think Peter Ellis would give up the fight and just enjoy his freedom.

But the 51-year-old at the heart of the infamous Christchurch Civic Creche sex abuse case says he owes it to his former profession and his many supporters to continue the fight.

A fourth petition for a pardon from the Governor-General is due to be lodged on his behalf at the end of this month.

"I could roll over and say, 'Look, I have had enough of this'," Mr Ellis told the Herald.

"And that would make me a bad childcare worker as far as I'm concerned."

Mr Ellis spent seven years behind bars after being found guilty of abusing seven children at the civic creche in 1993. He was released from prison in 2000 after serving two-thirds of his sentence, and has always maintained his innocence.

"Not a day goes past that I don't bump into someone else that is cross ... or find total strangers calling up [in support]. More information keeps coming up, people have consciences, and some people don't know quite how to undo it."

The civic creche case had widespread repercussions on how men interacted with children.

"My case went to the heart of a lot of other issues such as men in early childhood, men in primary schools and even just solo fathers not getting access to their children. It struck a chord in the sense that grandfathers going to pick up their grandchildren at creches suddenly felt that they couldn't," Mr Ellis said.

When he sought a public inquiry into his case, thousands signed petitions in support of him, including prominent New Zealanders such as former Leader of the Opposition Don Brash and law professors.

But repeated bids for a pardon, appeals and inquiries into his case have been rejected.

In 2009, Justice Minister Simon Power declined Mr Ellis' request for a commission of inquiry, saying he had not exhausted all his appeal rights.

Mr Ellis' lawyer, Judith Ablett Kerr, QC, said the latest bid for a pardon was based on fresh Otago University research indicating the questioning of the children at the creche was below a legally acceptable standard.

Mr Ellis said the information being presented in support of his bid was "sound, solid and researched".

He said he hoped the Governor-General, Sir Anand Satyanand, would be prepared to act before his term ends in August.

THE ELLIS SAGA

1992: Arrested after suspicions he abused kids in his care.

1993: Found guilty of 16 charges of sexual abuse against children.

2000: Released after serving two-thirds of his sentence.

1997: A 20/20 television programme aired which questioned irregularities in the case.

2009: Justice Minister Simon Power declined request for a commission of inquiry.

2011: Fourth petition due to be lodged for a pardon from the Governor-General.