The parents of Tom Phillips, who vanished with his three children into the New Zealand wilderness in 2021, have made a public apology - their first comments since their fugitive son was shot dead by police a month ago.
We would like to send our sincere apology... for all the trouble, inconvenience, loss of privacy and property caused by Tom, Neville and Julia Phillips wrote in a letter published on Thursday.
We are truly sorry for all that you had to endure.
Mr. Phillips, who disappeared with his children partly due to a custody dispute, evaded capture for nearly four years, despite a nationwide search and multiple sightings.
We in no way supported him or agreed with any of his actions in the past four years, they stated in the letter published in King Country News, a small community newspaper.
Their son was killed in a shoot-out on 8 September, during which a police officer was also seriously injured. Reports indicate the officer has since been discharged from the hospital.
One of Mr. Phillips' children had been with him during the shoot-out and provided information to help police locate his two other children later that day.
Before going into hiding, Mr. Phillips was living in Marokopa, a small rural town in Waikato surrounded by dense bush and forested terrain.
Mr. Phillips was known as an experienced hunter and bushman, familiar with the area he disappeared into.
Detective Superintendent Ross McKay stated weeks after the deadly shoot-out that the vast area in which Phillips kept the children is difficult, steep terrain almost completely obscured from all angles by dense bush.
Mr. Phillips and one or more of his children had been spotted on several occasions during their time in the wilderness, including being seen on CCTV while breaking into stores for supplies.
It was reportedly a store in the small town of Piopio that Mr. Phillips attempted to break into when police were alerted, leading to a chase and the subsequent shoot-out.
Police had indicated their main goal during the operation was to locate and return the children safely, but they were aware that Mr. Phillips possessed firearms and was motivated to use them.
As investigations are ongoing, police have stated they cannot provide further details.
Prior to his death, Mr. Phillips' family had made public appeals for him to return home. His sister Rozzi addressed him directly during a television interview, expressing their readiness to assist him in whatever he may have needed.
His mother Julia had also written him a letter, hoping daily that today will be the day that you all come home.
