28 May 2020

No parole for convicted murderer Phillip John Smith

7:13 pm on 28 May 2020

Convicted murderer, child sex offender and prison escapee Phillip John Smith has been denied parole after a New Zealand Parole Board hearing.

Phillip John Smith

Convicted murderer and sex offender Phillip John Smith was recaptured in Brazil. Photo: RNZ / POLICE

Smith is serving a life sentence for murdering the father of a boy he was sexually abusing.

He escaped to Brazil after being temporarily released in 2014 by using a passport with his birth name, Phillip John Traynor.

He was recaptured by Brazilian authorities six days later.

The escape prompted an inquiry, and Parliament passed a law to make it harder for prisoners to do so in future.

The New Zealand Parole Board today said in a tweet that he was declined parole and that he will next be seen by the board in April 2022. It said its full written decision will be available shortly.

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