Parents apologise for ‘trouble’ caused by New Zealand fugitive
The parents of Tom Phillips, who disappeared with his three children in the New Zealand wilderness in 2021, have issued a public apology; It was their first comment since their fugitive son was shot and killed by police a month ago.
“We would like to send our sincere apologies for any problems, inconveniences, loss of privacy and property caused by Tom,” Neville and Julia Phillips wrote in a letter published Thursday. they wrote.
“We are truly sorry for everything you have had to endure.”
Mr. Phillips, who disappeared with his children in part because of a custody dispute, evaded capture for almost four years despite a nationwide search and multiple sightings.
“We have in no way supported him or condoned any of his actions over the past four years,” Neville and Julia Phillips said in the letter published in the King Country News, a small community newspaper.
Their son was killed and a police officer was seriously injured in the conflict that broke out on September 8.
The police officer was later discharged from the hospital, according to local media reports.
One of Mr Phillips’ children was with him at the time of the shooting and provided information to locate his other two children later that day.
Before Mr Phillips and his children disappeared, they lived in Marokopa, a small rural town surrounded by dense bush and woodland in the Waikato region.
Mr. Phillips was known as an experienced hunter and forester who knew the area where he disappeared well.
Det Sup Ross McKay said weeks after the fatal shooting: “The large area where Phillips held the children is challenging, with the steep terrain obscured by dense bush from almost all angles.”
Mr Phillips and one or more of his children had been seen on CCTV several times during their time in the wilderness, including several times entering shops to buy supplies.
It’s a store in the small town of Piopio that Mr. Phillips is suspected of trying to break into when police were called, which led to a chase and gunfight.
Det Sup McKay said police’s main aim during the operation was to “find and bring the children back safely”. He added that they “knew that Philips had firearms and were motivated to use them.”
Police said they could not provide further details due to ongoing investigations.
Mr Phillips’ family had previously made public appeals for him to return.
“We are ready to help you with whatever you need to go through,” her sister Rozzi said in a message sent directly to her during a television interview.
His mother, Julia, also wrote him a letter, sent to New Zealand outlet Stuff, saying she hopes every day that “today will be the day you all come home”.
