Boys’ home rapist loses court appeal
A former Salvation Army officer who regularly raped and beat boys in his care has lost an appeal against his conviction on child sex charges. The South Australian Court of Criminal Appeal today unanimously dismissed the bid by William John Keith Ellis to overturn his convictions on seven counts of buggery and six of indecent assault. The offences, against four boys aged nine to 15, occurred between 1960 and 1971 at the former Salvation Army Eden Park boys home at Wistow, in the Adelaide Hills. In May last year, Ellis was jailed for 16 years with a non-parole period of 12. The 76-year-old was told the penalties could result in him dying in prison. At that time, Supreme Court Justice Michael David said he accepted evidence that Ellis had abused one of his victims more than 100 times. The abuse occurred amid a culture of beatings and cruel incarceration and he described the boys home as a disgrace. – AAP