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.

To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the website here.

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