Phillip John Smith
Phillip John Smith appeals conviction for leaving country
Prison escapee and sex offender Phillip John Smith is back before the courts today to appeal his conviction for fleeing overseas. Smith skipped the country in November 2014 while on temporary release… Audio
Footage of prison brawl that led to strip search released
Footage has been released to RNZ of the attack on Corrections officers at Auckland prison which led to a mass strip search in 2016. Video
Prisoners question Corrections about strip search in court
Arthur Taylor and Phillip John Smith have taken the Department of Corrections to the High Court in Auckland, alleging a strip search at Paremoremo of more than 200 prisoners was unlawful. Audio
Toupee taken away again
A High Court judge's decision to allow a murderer to wear his wig in prison as a right has been over-ruled. Dean of Law Mark Henaghan discusses the tension between the two decisons. Audio
Law to prevent Phillip Smith-style escape passes
The government hopes the change will prevent a repeat of the convicted murderer and sex offender's infamous escape.
Corrections to cover Philip Smith's costs over toupee case
Corrections is to pay more than $3000 to a convicted murderer after a ruling his rights were breached when he was prevented from wearing a toupee.
Prisoner pay-out for toupee breach
A convicted murderer is getting $3500 after his rights were breached when he was denied access to his toupee. Audio
Corrections to challenge ruling on murderer's toupee
Corrections will appeal what it describes as a precedent-setting ruling, which found it had breached an inmate's rights by not letting him wear a hairpiece.
A bald act of expression
Opinion - Does a murderer really have the right to wear a hairpiece? Are we really living in such mad times? Or, asks Andrew Geddis, might things be a little more complex than that?
Phillip John Smith wins court battle over right to wear toupee
The convicted child sex offender and murderer who fled to South America has won the right to wear a toupee behind bars. Audio
Phillip John Smith wins legal challenge over toupe
Convicted murderer and sex offender Phillip John Smith has won his legal challenge against the department of Corrections over ahis toupe. The judge ruled that Mr Smith's fundamental right to freedom… Audio
Murderer gets apology over security classification
Convicted child sex offender and murderer Phillip John Smith has received an apology from Corrections after mistakes were made over his security classification.
Murderer Phillip Smith receives apology over security classification
The murderer and child sex offender Phillip John Smith has received an apology from Corrections after mistakes were made when assessing his security classification. our court reporter Edward Gay has… Audio
Porn found on computers inside maximum security prison
Pornography, pirated movies, software and music was found on computers inside the country's maximum security prison, in a computer suite overseen by the convicted murderer and child sex offender… Audio
Government told to take better control of borders
The government is being warned to strengthen border control, after documents revealed numerous criminals had fled the country despite alerts.
Government warned to take better control of borders
The government is being warned to take better control of who enters and leaves the country, following the release of documents from the Phillip John Smith inquiry. Audio
Smith inquiry reveals more border alert failures
Documents from the Phillip John Smith inquiry reveal other criminals have fled the country despite border alerts - one who cut off his electronic bracelet on the way to the airport.
Smith inquiry documents reveal slack border controls
Police say they're worried border alerts aren't stopping criminals and suspects fleeing the country. They told an inquiry into Phillip John Smith's escape he was just one of many cases. Audio
Smith found guilty of fleeing, passport charges
Convicted murderer and sex offender Phillip John Smith has apologised for fleeing to South America while on temporary release from prison.
Lawyer wants the police commissioner to give evidence
The lawyer for the convicted murderer and child sex offender Phillip John Smith wants the police commissioner to give evidence about 23 police press releases which he says were an abuse of process. Audio