Peter Ellis (childcare worker)
Peter Hugh McGregor Ellis (30 March 1958 – 4 September 2019) was a New Zealand convicted child sex-offender. He was a child care worker who worked in Christchurch. His case remains controversial as many believe that Ellis was innocent due to lack of faith in testimony and strong evidence against him. He was convicted in June 1993 and release from prison in February 2000.
Peter Ellis | |
|---|---|
 Ellis on the cover of North&South magazine in November 2015 | |
| Born | Peter Hugh McGregor Ellis 30 March 1958 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Died | 4 September 2019 (aged 61) Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Cause of death | Bladder cancer |
| Occupation | Former child care worker |
Conviction and backlash
In June 1993, Ellis was found guilty in the High Court on 16 counts of sexual offences involving children in his care at the Christchurch Civic Creche and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. His conviction has been criticized, with concerns centering on how the children's testimony was obtained and presented to the jury.
Many people believe in Ellis' innocence and many New Zealanders have supported his calls to overturn the conviction.
In 1994, the Court of Appeal removed convictions on three of the charges, but kept the sentence. His conviction and sentence were removed for a second time in the Court of Appeal in October 1999. Ellis refused to attend parole board hearings while in prison because he would have to confess to the crimes in order to argue for early release.[1] He was released in February 2000 after serving seven years in prison.
Ellis has continued to campaign to clear his name. In 2019, he appealed to the Supreme Court to have his conviction removed from his background.
The Ellis case was one of many high profile child abuse cases around the world in the 1980s and early 1990s. It has been mentioned as a reason for the decrease in the number of male teachers in New Zealand schools.[2]
Personal life
Ellis was born in Christchurch. He was openly bisexual.[3]
On 26 July 2019, Ellis announced that he was diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer.[4] He died on 4 September 2019 while appealing his conviction in Christchurch from the disease, aged 61.[5]
References
- ↑ Gilbert, Jarrod (8 February 2018). Jarrod Gilbert: Peter Ellis martyr to deranged prejudice, New Zealand Herald.
- ↑ "Schools 'need to appeal to boys'". The Northern Advocate. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
- ↑ Hood, Lynley (2001). A City Possessed: The Christchurch Civic Creche Case. Longacre Press. ISBN 1-877135-62-3.
- ↑ "Peter Ellis diagnosed with terminal cancer as he seeks last appeal against child sex abuse convictions". TVNZ. 26 July 2019.
- ↑ Convicted Civic Creche sex abuser Peter Ellis dies while appealing conviction. Stuff.co.nz. 4 September 2019. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/115536931/convicted-civic-creche-sex-abuser-peter-ellis-dies-while-appealing-convicted. Retrieved 4 September 2019.