Lawyer pushes for Ellis Privy Council appeal

The lawyer for convicted childcare worker Peter Ellis has asked Attorney-General Michael Cullen whether he will accept a parliamentary recommendation that the way be cleared for Ellis to appeal to the Privy Council.

Ellis was convicted in 1993 of sexually molesting children at the Christchurch Civic Creche, where he worked.

One of the seven preschoolers he was found guilty of abusing later retracted the allegations and three of Ellis' convictions have since been quashed. Ellis, who has always maintained his innocence, served two-thirds of a 10-year jail sentence.

The committee rejected a requested royal commission but recommended the Attorney-General not oppose Ellis' new application for leave to appeal to the Privy Council.

Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC, said yesterday that Ellis was anxious to know whether the Attorney-General was going to accept the recommendation and had sought an urgent response.

A spokeswoman for Dr Cullen said the letter had been received and referred to the Solicitor-General.

- NZPA