It's believed the death of Peter Ellis will not affect the Supreme Court bid to clear his name.

The convicted child sex offender died yesterday, two months before the court is scheduled to hear his appeal.

He's always maintained his innocence, despite being found guilty of abusing children at a Christchurch creche in 1993.

Massey University professor Chris Gallavin told Kate Hawkesby the case is not like David Bain or Mark Lundy, where retrials were held.

He says because of the nature of the case and child witnesses being at the heart of the case - it was always going to be unlikely there would be a new trial.

Gallavin says the court had made the unusual move of saying the prospect of Ellis dying before then, wouldn't be an impediment.

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