Winston Wealleans Passes After Decades Advocating for Peter Ellis | Christchurch News

Winston Wealleans, the passionate advocate who spent decades fighting for the innocence of Peter Ellis — a man convicted in 1993 of horrific abuse at Christchurch’s Civic Creche — has died at 85. Even after Ellis’s own death in 2022, Wealleans never wavered, calling the conviction a grave miscarriage of justice and blaming systemic institutions rather than Ellis. His daughter recalls his lifelong dedication to this cause, and his passing closes a chapter in one of New Zealand’s most controversial legal cases — now officially overturned by the Supreme Court in 2025. Wealleans lived by his convictions, leaving behind a legacy of fierce advocacy and quiet defiance. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f00c15bd370c6b3f