The parents of fugitive father Tom Phillips, who was fatally shot by police last month, have penned a letter to the community expressing their “sincere apology” for their son’s actions.
Phillips had been evading police since December 2021 with his three children, and died following a shootout after police were called to reports of a burglary in the early hours of September 8.
The first attending officer was injured after being “confronted by gunfire at close range”. He has since been discharged from hospital.
Today, King Country News carried a letter to the editor written by Neville and Julia Phillips, expressing their regret over their son’s actions.
‘Truly sorry’: The message from Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips’ parents, watch on TVNZ+
“We would like to send our sincere apology to all those in the Waitomo/Otorohanga districts, most especially those in the Marokopa/Te Anga community for all the trouble, inconvenience, loss of privacy and property caused by Tom,” the couple wrote.
“We in no way supported him or agreed with any of his actions in the past four years.
“We are truly sorry for all that you had to endure.”
Over the years the couple has not spoken to the media about the investigation, but other family members including Phillips’ sister Rozzi previously revealed that their mother had written a letter to her son.
“Tom – I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this,” her letter said.
On Tuesday, a police spokeswoman confirmed the investigation into Phillips’ accomplices was ongoing and that officers were following “strong lines of inquiry”.
The media could also report that a Family Court judge granted an interim injunction in relation to the case – the second such legal move in the wake of Phillips’ death.
