KEY POINTS:
The father of a seven-year-old girl caught up in a trans-Tasman custody battle is a convicted killer.
Terry Antony Thorne was convicted of manslaughter after stabbing to death 18-year-old Rory O'Shea outside an Auckland dance party in 1983.
Mr Thorne, 44, a fitness instructor who lives in Sydney, said he knew his past would one day come back to haunt him, the Sunday Star Times reported today.
He is now in the country fighting to regain custody of his daughter Caitlin, who had been living with him in Australia.
On October 7 Caitlin's mother, Nicola Richards, allegedly snatched her away while she was staying at her grandparents during the school holidays.
This week Richards returned to her parents place with Caitlin, but still refused to give her up and after a tense standoff with Mr Thorne, police became involved.
Police said Caitlin was now with one of her parents and the custody dispute would be decided in the Family Court.
Mr Thorne has accused Caitlin's mother, Nicola Richards of being a drug addict and mixing with underworld figures.
Her boyfriend Iain Clegg is in custody charged with the murder of police officer Don Wilkinson gunned down while involved in a drugs operation in Managere last month.
Richards is on bail after appearing in court last week on drugs charges.
At his trial, Mr Thorne's lawyer John Haigh QC told the jury he had been confronted by a "violent, liquored-up and freaked-out man" who was intent on violence.
"Mr Thorne believed the action he took was the only way he would come out of the situation without injury."
He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to four years' jail.
Mr Thorne told the newspaper he knew his past would eventually be made public, but he did not consider that his actions of more than 20 years ago made him a bad parent now.
"My manslaughter charge has never affected my ability as a parent, but Nicola's lifestyle certainly affects hers."
Mr Thorne said Richards had demonstrated "very irrational behaviour", which was not conducive to raising a young girl.
But Richards lawyer Chris Comeskey said Mr Thorne should be careful when making allegations about her.
"One thing I would say is that people in glass houses really shouldn't throw stones.
"This man's violent offending, albeit a number of years ago, shows a propensity for losing his temper."
- NZPA
