Phillip John Smith reportedly convinced a police officer that he could practise law
Convicted murderer Phillip John Smith has reportedly been posing as a lawyer while in jail, reported the NZ Herald.
Smith allegedly convinced a police officer that he could practise law, despite not being listed as a legal practitioner by the Law Society.
“We can confirm we are in the early stages of making inquiries following complaints from members of the public regarding an inmate at Rimutaka. As an investigation is ongoing and for privacy reasons we are unable to comment further”, a spokesperson for police told the Herald in relation to the claims.
In 1996, Smith was sentenced to life for killing a man; Smith had been molesting his victim’s son, and even though the family relocated to avoid Smith, Smith found them. Last month, Smith faced the Parole Board in his 14th appearance before them.
The board denied him parole on the grounds that Smith still needed to build trust and inspire confidence that he would follow community rules. Earlier this year, he had been caught smuggling contraband into his cell, including cell phones and a cigarette lighter.
He was also charged with tax fraud last year. In 2014, he nearly escaped the authorities by leaving the country while on temporary release from prison.
Recently, Smith pursued several civil cases against the Department of Corrections and other government bodies. In May, his challenge of a sex ban at a prison unit for child sex abusers was shot down by the Court of Appeal.
