Killer Phillip Smith fled the country on a passport under the name of Phillip Traynor. Now, Corrections and Internal Affairs have been working with police on finding out how a convicted murderer and child abuser could leave the country undetected.
Phillip Smith's half-sister Joanne, whose house was raided by police this week, is focused on looking after her children after the "bombshell" news of the convicted killer's escape and recapture.
Joanne Smith's partner today said she had left Highbury, Palmerston North, but was in no trouble with police.
He saidhe wasn't sure if Joanne wanted to make contact with Phillip in Brazil.
"She's pretty hurt by it all." He said the news of Smith's escape stunned him. "It was a bombshell that was dropped on here on Saturday." He said Joanne was looking after her two children. At least one of the children had not previously known of Phillip Smith's convictions.
