10 episodes
Peter Ellis, the Creche Case & Me Newsroom.co.nz
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- True Crime
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4.9 • 69 Ratings
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In never-before-heard interviews, this gripping new series takes you inside one of New Zealand’s most controversial legal cases, when a kind of madness gripped Christchurch, resulting in a miscarriage of justice that would take 30 years to put right. Peter Ellis, the Creche Case & Me is an 8-part Newsroom Investigates podcast presented by Melanie Reid - or watch the series at Newsroom.co.nz
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episode 1: Unbelievable
In this shocking first episode, we take you into early 1990s Christchurch with its conservatism, white power gangs - and claims that satanic cults and ritual abuse might be occurring under everyone’s noses.
Presented by award-winning Newsroom Investigates editor Melanie Reid. Discover more at Newsroom.co.nz.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Episode 2: Peter Arrested
When Detective Colin Eade and a core group of parents call an urgent meeting, the flames of fear become a bonfire – Eade is convinced Ellis is not acting alone and that at least 10 other offenders are also involved.
Presented by award-winning Newsroom Investigates editor Melanie Reid. Discover more at Newsroom.co.nz.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Episode 3: Police and panic
Up to five children a day are being seen at the police Child Abuse Unit, some put through multiple evidential interviews. The panic spreads through the families, and parents are ballistic with fear - a frenzy being led by therapists and police.
Presented by award-winning Newsroom Investigates editor Melanie Reid. Discover more at Newsroom.co.nz.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Episode 4: Four women arrested
The belief that a ring of child sex abusers made up of a young gay creche worker and four women living normal suburban lives seizes the imaginations of Christchurch’s establishment. Police raid the homes of the women, trawling a backyard goldfish pond, climbing up into rooves and emptying family board games, before arresting and charging them with a raft of offences.
Presented by award-winning Newsroom Investigates editor Melanie Reid. Discover more at Newsroom.co.nz.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Episode 5: The trial
It is June 1993 and the night before the verdict in a case that has consumed the nation with its far-fetched claims of satanic rituals and children being sexually abused with needles and sticks. Accused childcare worker Peter Ellis spends it with young reporter Melanie Reid, recording the very last of their remarkable clandestine interviews in his flat, hours from finding out whether he will be locked away.
Presented by award-winning Newsroom Investigates editor Melanie Reid. Discover more at Newsroom.co.nz.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Episode 6: Prison
As Peter Ellis sits in prison, developments in the case keep coming. A year after he is convicted, the star child witness retracts her testimony saying she was never abused by Ellis at all. Meanwhile a prominent conservative politician does a U-turn and the top cop at the centre of the case admits to multiple affairs with complainant mothers and a social worker.
Presented by award-winning Newsroom Investigates editor Melanie Reid. Discover more at Newsroom.co.nz.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Customer Reviews
Very sad
Very well done. So sad. Paul Ellis sounds like Such a wonderful person.
Peter maintained dignity and integrity throughout this ordeal
Firstly, thank you for mentioning this podcast during your interview with Ryan Wolf. I was putting off listening to it, as thought it would be too traumatic and sad to listen to, and it was. You approach the podcast / interviews openly and despite of the sensitive nature of the issues, you still respectfully asked the difficult questions too. From the start to the end, Peter Ellis stood by his innocence and maintained his dignity and integrity and surprising did not seem bitter or hardened by this travesty which he endured. The apple certainly does not fall far from the tree as his mother too, despite the daunting situation / hard years ahead, presented with much integrity, grace and dignity. As a parent myself, I think we should all aspire to be parent like her. I'm not embarrassed to admit I wept after hearing Peter’s story, and the outcome. He, his mother - and even the children - are deserving of our apology and heartfelt tears.
Incredible Case
This was so hard to listen to but very well told by Melanie and her team. It was hard not to be so angry at what everyone in this incredible miscarriage of justice suffered and what Peter and his family were put through was truly unbelievable
So sad he died before his name was cleared