The killer forever in woman’s sights

The sister of the man who was murdered by paedophile Phillip John Smith has taken up target shooting – and always imagines her target is Smith.

Lynda, whose surname cannot be published, said Smith still loomed large in her family’s life, and every time he was in the news, the heartache and grief returned.

‘‘The toll is indescribable. You just think you’re going OK, and then you see him in the news. It brings all the grief back, and all the horrible memories.’’

She said her family was torn apart by the 1995 murder of her brother, whose son Smith had been molesting. Four years later, Lynda’s younger brother committed suicide, and 18 months later her mother ‘‘died of a broken heart’’, she said.

Smith’s latest legal claim, earlier this week, was that his human rights were being breached by keeping him in the highsecurity wing of Auckland Prison.

But according to Lynda, his claims are ‘‘bulls...’’. ‘‘The only human right he should have is to breathe ...

‘‘There’s no soul or being to him, there’s nothing.’’

When she moved from Wellington to Taranaki, Lynda took up target shooting. Whenever she imagined Smith in her sights, she never missed, she said.

Smith’s claim for a judicial review, heard in the High Court at Auckland on Monday, said his safety was endangered by keeping him in a high-security wing, when he was classified as a low to medium security risk.

That is despite his fleeing New Zealand while on temporary prison release in late 2014. He was eventually caught in Rio de nothing in him, Janeiro, Brazil, and put in maximum security on his return. Among other cases he has brought before the courts, he successfully sued Corrections for confiscating his toupee.

Lynda said her nephew – now in his 30s and living overseas – was slowly healing from Smith’s emotional and physical wounds. He was a 13-year-old when Smith stabbed his father 19 times as he tried to protect the boy.

He still suffered anxiety and depression, she said. ‘‘But he’s doing better.’’

A decision on Smith’s judicial review case has been reserved.