A prison escaper hiding in New Zealand under a false identity is fighting extradition to Germany after his ex-wife's new boyfriend told authorities where he was.
After five years on the run in Europe, convicted armed robber Willi Wolf sneaked into New Zealand 14 years ago under a false name.
Wolf, aged 52, married here and had two children.
But the relationship broke up in 1995, and last year his wife's new boyfriend told the German authorities where to find him.
In 1981, Wolf was jailed for six years in Germany on charges of robbing a prostitute with a knife. He escaped after 20 months.
In front of Justice Judith Potter in the High Court at Auckland yesterday, Wolf sought a judicial review of a district court decision that he was eligible for surrender to Germany.
His lawyer, James Boyack, argued that Judge Stan Thorburn had "misdirected himself" in law, and not adequately considered factors such as Wolf's background.
Wolf was born into a dysfunctional family in postwar Germany. His father never featured in his life and his mother abandoned him as a baby, after which he was raised by reluctant grandparents.
When he was 8, his mother returned with a new man who was an ex-Nazi.
Mr Boyack said that because of Wolf's difficult childhood, his relationship with his own children was profound.
The offending in Germany had related to a brief period of drug taking which had not been his habit before or since.
Mr Boyack said that because Wolf was a model prisoner, he had been allowed to leave the prison to work in a furniture factory.
But because of the privilege, he came under pressure from prison gangs to bring back contraband goods.
He was also "treated like an animal" in prison, and decided to escape.
Mr Boyack said that was 20 years ago and Wolf was now a new man who had turned his life around in New Zealand.
But Crown prosecutor Christine Gordon said Wolf's upbringing and his need to be a father were humanitarian matters which only the Minister of Justice should consider.
Miss Gordon said an affidavit produced by Wolf's former wife at the district court hearing in December said his children were scared of him.
The wife accused Wolf of knocking their son out cold and said their daughter did not start talking until she was 4 because her father was so domineering.
Both children had needed counselling because of Wolf's treatment.
A church minister told the Weekend Herald that Wolf had a good relationship with his children, whom he had been allowed to see only once while in custody for the past seven months.
Pastor Mark Jackson, of the Massey Community Church, was in court with other supporters who wanted mercy shown to Wolf.
Mr Jackson said that until his arrest Wolf had had custody of his children every weekend.
"He just wants them to know he loves them. The separation has left him incredibly distressed."
The case resumes next week.
Dobbed-in fugitive fights extradition
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.