Motive: Conviction

Conviction 09 | Twists

The High Court trial into child abuse at the Christchurch Civic Creche begins on Monday, 26 April, 1993. Peter Ellis is charged with 28 counts against 13 children. This series was first released on October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. [https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/conviction-the-christchurch-civic-creche-case] [https://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/e6255440-238e-47c9-81d5-8efa847a4a2b/index.html] Peter Ellis's friends rally round to help him scrub up his image and the trial begins. As the High Court trial opens, Peter Ellis finds himself before a conservative Catholic judge and a compromised jury with personal connections to some of the complainants. The tension and divisions this case has engendered has serious consequences. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details [https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/motive?share=7ff47c97-6d59-4c21-b8b1-11b81700a3b7]

Conviction 08 | 11 Long Weeks

As the divisions in the community intensify, one year on from those first allegations, the preliminary court hearing against Peter Ellis and the four women begins. This series was first released on October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. [https://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/e6255440-238e-47c9-81d5-8efa847a4a2b/index.html] [https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/conviction-the-christchurch-civic-creche-case] Together the five child care workers face 60 charges of sexual offending against 20 children. Over 11 weeks, dozens of people give evidence, from the children and their families to police, other creche teachers and various experts. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details [https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/motive?share=9577abff-9734-4741-9ba8-4f2f92db4dfc]

Conviction 07 | The Women

Four female creche workers are arrested in a series of raids on their homes. A damning report into the creche culture is release and the child care centre is abruptly closed. This series was first released on October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the website here. [https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/conviction-the-christchurch-civic-creche-case] [https://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/e6255440-238e-47c9-81d5-8efa847a4a2b/index.html] By late 1992, four female creche workers had also been accused of abuse and arrested by police. Debbie Gillespie and Marie Keys describe the day the police knocked on their doors and all the woman talk about the impact of their arrests. Then, out of the blue, the creche is closed leaving many creche staff wondering if they'll be next. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details [https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/motive?share=2608edb6-0baa-47c3-9028-489bfaeffc93]

Conviction 06 | Spikehead, Stupidhead & Boulderhead

The children's stories get more and more bizarre and suddenly, others are in the frame too. This series was first released on 4 October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. [https://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/e6255440-238e-47c9-81d5-8efa847a4a2b/index.html] [https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/conviction-the-christchurch-civic-creche-case] By October 1992, 119 children have been interviewed and their allegations range from violent nude dancing to rape and murder. Expert opinion varies on why children would make up such claims, but the parents couldn't imagine where the ideas would come from, unless the children had experienced horrific abuse. And more disclosures mean more suspects - four other creche teachers and Peter Ellis' mother are accused of being involved. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details [https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/motive?share=a941a805-66a1-469f-8849-7ff05a2d3ef5]

Conviction 05 | Total Recall

As more and more children come forward with accounts of abuse, we look at what the role the parents, police and expert child interviewers may have played. This series was first released on 3 October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. [https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/conviction-the-christchurch-civic-creche-case] [https://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/e6255440-238e-47c9-81d5-8efa847a4a2b/index.html] What's happening for the 3 to 5 year old children at the centre of the investigation, some of whom are put through hours of questioning by professionals feeling their way in a relatively new field? How could happy, healthy, innocent kids come up with such distressing, and at times wildly fantastical stories? Memory specialists and child psychologists discuss the merits of children's testimony. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details [https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/motive?share=60a16137-7323-4af2-92e3-9b99728a3876]