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Creche girl signs Ellis petition

Sat 28 Jun 2003 In: New Zealand Daily News

One of the original child complainants in the Peter Ellis case has signed the petition called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into his convictions. Rachel (not her real name), now 18 years old, was aged seven when she was first interviewed about Ellis. Psychologists asked her during a videotaped interview if Ellis had ever touched her. She said yes and was then asked where he had touched her. She replied "On my head". Then the questioning became more intense. "They asked where else did Peter touch me and I think I named nearly every ligament I knew the name for," she recalled yesterday. "Then finally ... I couldn't think of anything else to name (so) I said he touched me on my bottom ... They (investigators) kind of got all interested then." Rachel's parents only agreed to let her be interviewed for the Ellis investigations after repeated calls from social workers. "I think they sent someone around one day to note my behavioural patterns. When they came to observe my behaviour I think I argued the entire time with my little sister ... Then they left and got back in contact with my parents and said clearly there is some abuse.” Rachel first began to doubt Ellis's guilt when she was 13, and has her own opinions now on why he was convicted. "I think that because he was the only male there and that he was homosexual might have caused a bit of discomfort within some of the parents. When I think about it, it just comes down to that."    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Saturday, 28th June 2003 - 12:00pm

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