Tom Phillips - any Kiwis (or others who know the story) want to discuss?

[Iwishiknewwhatiwasdoing]

Posting for traffic…

Such a nightmare of a situation. So insane how he managed to evade police for 4 years. The youngest may not even remember his previous life?

How scurrilous from the Herald if it had been true. Scurrilous either way.

@SweetnsourNZ how do you know there is no baby?

I don’t think rumours of a baby being found with the two younger children have been disproven.

🙄 Beyond a fucken joke.

Police have not denied the baby rumors.

The Police Minister Mark Mitchell has labelled Tom Phillips as “a monster” for the harm and suffering he inflicted on his three children.

That phrase reminded me of this guy who also abducted his daughter -

Josef Fritzl, the man the international media dubbed the monster.

Coincidence or huge hint?

The Police Minister is correct in calling Phillips a monster. The situation is even worse than the rumours.

There really is, and maybe it's not surprising. I work in family law, and know how gruelling those court cases can be for all involved. There's nothing happy about relationships that end in court, and a lot of fathers - and mothers - miss out on their kids which is devastating.

That said - I have also seen how many people have a complete lack of awareness or insight into their own behaviour that can be or feel unsafe for their kids and partners. Whether that's low emotional regulation, inappropriate actions or recklessness, inability to judge risk, inability to meet kids needs appropriately, drug use, gang connections, exposure of children to adult issues, mental heath issues, as well as the more obvious verbal and physical abuse. I've seen people swear black and blue they're good parents, they love their kids - and for the most part they do. But I also have the texts they think are appropriate to send to their ex partner on my desk. The criminal rap sheets as long as my arm. The vile voice messages threatening to kill. The drug test results. I've witnessed the violent explosions when they're told something they don't want to hear - and think quietly to myself, there it is. That's why you don't have your kids in your care, or have restricted contact. That's why there are protection orders. A child's safety is paramount.

The system isn't perfect, by any means. There are a lot of improvements to make. And no doubt there are a few decent parents who really get put through the wringer for no reason (false accusations). Most of the time, though, there's reasons, quite often on both/all sides. Tom Phillips - as borne out by the conditions he thought acceptable for his kids, to the taking them on armed robberies and putting them in harms way - from the get go of the truck below the tide line he had the markers of someone unstable. I am so so glad the kids made it out alive. I really thought for a long time he'd killed them, and clearly police were worried about that possibility or outcome too. That won't be for no reason.

Unfortunately there is little that can be released on that, and people will continue to follow the hero Dad narrative, because that serves their worldview or fits their bias.

I too thought "monster" was very telling. It's not election year and - even if it was - that's very strong language to use. There'll be a reason behind that, whether the children weren't in good condition - ie evidence of abuse or neglect - or something else. I certainly hope there's not a baby, but if there were I doubt that would ever be confirmed officially, as it would be hugely harmful to the children. They're already identifiable enough.

Do you really think the international gutter press, who cater to the prurient appetites of readers like you, would feel bound by a New Zealand injunction if this were a fritzl 2.0 situation?

been following this vaguely too. What I’ve never understood is why it’s such a story? I can understand in NZ but internationally? Man takes kids in custody battle and lives homeless life with them is hardly international news? Is its. Gabby petitio/ Nicola bulley type situation where no one really knows why it’s captured international attention?

I can’t believe the baby rumour- an 11/12 year old pregnancy and childbirth would’ve been so high risk without medical care she would’ve been unlikely go live through it really

@Bambamhoohoo maybe it’s the fact they were supposedly camping outdoors all this time. That’s unthinkable in the UK, so I guess it captured peoples attention. Most child abductions by a parent seem to be taking the children to the other parents home country and staying there so this was out of most peoples understanding.

@IamNotBeingUnreasonable how coukd it be worse

Not his?

Yet the international gutter press have removed articles that were earlier available.

Perhaps they actually are acting morally and remembering there are three children at the centre of this whose lives are in a massive upheaval and who have now lost their father (who they quite probably loved or felt strongly attached to after four years of little to no contact with any other adult).

In this press conference, she clearly says in answer to the question were the children found with anyone else, "They were by themselves."

Tom Phillips: Second hidden campsite points to ‘outside help’ for fugitive New Zealand father | The Independent

Where are people getting that the press were told "I can't say"?

Oh, I've found it. That comment was made before they located the remaining two children and the campsite, so she actually couldn't address the rumour as she literally didn't know.

The Herald (newspaper) understands there also may be a baby missing with the other with the other children. Can you give us any information about this?’ a reporter asked.

Deputy Commissioner Rogers replied: ‘No, I’m sorry, I can’t.’

I read that as "no I can't give you any information because there's none to give" too, rather than anything more sinister.

One of the papers had a headline the other day hinting about unspeakable truths and forbidden secrets in this case but that's the kind of clickbatey stuff they say to skew people into thinking they're talking about one thing while actually refering something else entirely.

There were two quad bikes iirc from reports. There was also the matter of petrol for them, and food. Then of course clothing, backpacks, footwear, and the weapons and ammo.

Some hikers had taken fairly recent footage of Philips and the three kids trudging along in the area a few weeks ago, so I'm sure the police were prepared. Their main priority would have been surprising Philips away from his camp, I'd imagine, in order to prevent a family annihilation scenario. Once they started noticing local robberies, they must have been confident they would ultimately get him and save the children. The child who was with him on the night of his last robbery was lucky to have escaped unharmed.

It was a later press conference than the one you are referring to, but I won’t give any further details, as I have promised other posters I won’t speculate!

After other posters called me out, I reflected that it is unhelpful to speculate on the injunction. It’s there for a reason - to protect the children - and we should respect that.

Absolutely, I truly hope so. After the recent footage of them, I'd been half-expecting news, but hoping it wouldn't quite be like this. Those poor kids.

@mnhq why are you letting this thread stand? There is an injunction in place and posters are repeating information they shouldn't despite the thread being reported. It's very disappointing you are allowing these comments to stand.

In my very next post, I realised that in the later press conferences the question of whether or not there was anyone else at the campsite was clarified with a categorical no - once they had actually found the campsite.

I'm not sure why this isn't clear to you. Injunctions could be for many other reasons than the one you are suggesting on this thread.

backing you @LuluLozenge

It is true. They aren't allowed to release the information yet because of the family. But it will come out soon.