14 Oct 2009

Request for inquiry into Peter Ellis case denied

7:27 pm on 14 October 2009

The Government has declined a request to hold a Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis case.

Mr Ellis was convicted of 16 counts of indecency in relation to seven children in 1993 while he was working at the Civic Childcare Centre in Christchurch.

Mr Ellis was released from prison in 2000 after serving two-thirds of a 10-year sentence.

A request was made by the former National Party leader Don Brash, former MP Katherine Rich and writer Lynley Hood for a Commission of Inquiry to look into all aspects of the investigation and legal processes relating to the case.

Justice Minister Simon Power has announced that the request has been declined, mainly because Mr Ellis has not exhausted all his appeal rights.

Mr Power says it would be inappropriate to hold a Commission of Inquiry into the case while Mr Ellis has the ability to appeal against his convictions.

The minister says Mr Ellis' counsel had previously signalled an intention to file an application for special leave to appeal to the Privy Council, but has not done so.