Phillip John Smith, who was convicted of killing the father of a boy he molested, will get a $3500 government payout after he won a court case centred around his toupee.
The Department of Corrections prevented Smith from wearing the custom-made hairpiece after he used it to disguise himself when he fled to Brazil while on temporary release, Fairfax reported.
Smith argued in the High Court in March his rights had been breached.
Justice Edwin Wylie agreed and said Corrections had ignored Smith's "fundamental right to freedom of expression", Fairfax reported.
![Phillip John Smith was convicted of killing the father of the boy he molested. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/IRZTRSZCQRRR4HK4PQSF5LSBUM.jpg?auth=852cf9bf106034231fdb758b4557f3ebcfc1799355bf357449e1a9d075525d0f&width=16&height=18&quality=70&smart=true)