First published onPhoto: RNZ / Cole Eastham-FarrellyThe Supreme Court decision quashing Peter Ellis' child sex abuse convictions posthumously is "unique and groundbreaking", according to an investigator specialising in miscarriages of justice. Lawyers argued that under tikanga, Ellis' mana continued after death and he had a right to be able to restore it. The Supreme Court judges said they accepted that tikanga considerations would support the personal reputational issues relating to Ellis' appeal being taken into consideration. While there had been posthumous pardons before now, whether the family of Ellis could apply for compensation was untested in law. Outside court today, Ellis' lawyer Rob Harrison said the team were not considering compensation and that they would work through the 152-page Supreme Court decision first.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 08, 2022 18:50 UTC