Phillip John Smith returns to court to appeal conviction for escaping overseas
RNZ
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Save Phillip John Smith. Photo: RNZ / Murielle Baker
By RNZ
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 from Spring Hill prison.
While in prison, Smith successfully renewed his passport under his
birth name Traynor.
On temporary release he boarded a flight to Chile and travelled on to Brazil.