Images of Tom Phillips’ remote campsite revealed a day after fugitive father shot dead by New Zealand police | New Zealand
The police in New Zealand gave images and details of the camp area of the leakage Tom Phillips, after their father was shot and killed by the police on Monday.
Phillips spent about four years hiding in the wild nature with his children. After a theft report in the town of Far Piopio, the police were killed in a fire exchange. A police officer recovered in the hospital after being shot by Phillips with a high -power rifle. About 11 hours after the murder of Phillips, two of his children were safe and good at the camp in Waitomo. It seems that the third child was with Phillips during shooting.
At a press conference on Tuesday, police commissioner Richard Chambers said the authorities found at least one firearm and ammunition in the camp area and found about 2 km from where Phillips was killed.
The authorities said that the authorities can get the support of one of the children to find the remaining children in busy bushes ”. The published image showed four bicycles, rubber and non -alcoholic beverage boxes in thick bushes.
Chambers said that the camp area is “deep shrub… that no one is easily found”.
Chambers also said that they are looking for a potential criminal partner who can help Phillips and that the investigation will continue for “months .. He would examine how Phillips could access firearms and four bicycles, and who could be included in the bikes.
“[There is] Too much work to determine if someone else is. “
In Piopio on Tuesday, residents showed a mixture of sadness and relief at the dramatic end of the four -year epic.
Many reiterated a thought that was common online by supporting Phillips and their children. An overwhelming feeling was relieved by the feeling that children were safe and that violent conflict should be avoided.
“His death was probably inevitable, the police were doing their jobs, but they were sad that they did it in front of the child.
His nephew Matwehe said he was “relieved” for children and worried about their health after the death of their father.
Children are now in custody. In the Supreme Court, on Tuesday evening, an emergency was ordered by a lawyer acting on behalf of the Phillips family.
On Tuesday, Warwick Morehu from Orange Tamariki told journalists that children settled and “succeeded under conditions”. He described the situation as “unprecedented ve and addressed the public to give confidentiality to the family.
Phillips, 9 -year -old Maverick, 10, 10 -year -old Embber in December 2021 after a dispute with his mother to Waikato Wilderess took. Phillips’s children had no legal custody. He faced a crime of having aggravated robbery, aggravated wound and an illegal firearm. There are experts concern About the re -integration of children into society.
At a press conference, Chambers reiterated that Phillips should not be seen as a hero. “This is a hero who does this to children who released high -power rifles in my staff,” he said.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said Phillips constantly harm their children.
“In Mr. Phillips, you had a father who didn’t respect the safety of these children, a suspect who put his family into a violent and dangerous crime in previous cases.”
Chambers provided an update about the wounded officer he met on Tuesday and said it would be a öz long way for healing ”.
“He was able to talk to us a little… His eyes are not open… He confronts a lot.”
As the community struggled with tragedy, some were reluctant to speak at Piopio. “To be honest,” he said, in response to a question of Guardian. Farm Goods Store was advised not to talk.
Kerry Voyle, a local council worker on Piopio’s main street on Tuesday morning, said Phillip’s death was “really traumatic ve and felt for his friends and his family in the rural community.
This feeling was repeated by the farm worker Nicos Pizimolas outside the store cut by Phillips.
“At the end of the day, the children lost their father, so sad for them. At least everyone knows that they are safe now.”
