Phillip John Smith: Declined parole

Phillip Smith. Photo / Nick Reed

Alleged prison escapee Phillip John Smith has been declined parole and will not be considered for release again for another seven months.

In the Parole Board's decision, released today, Smith was described as a "manipulative, serious criminal with a high risk of reoffending".

He declined to appear before the board and only gave notice at the last minute because he said he had not been given notification of the hearing, the decision said.

The board denied that allegation.

"This manoeuvre by Mr Smith is an illustration of what the board has described in the past as his manipulative behaviour," the ruling said.

Smith is serving a life sentence he was given in 1996 for the murder of the father of a boy he had sexually abused.

At the time of the murder, Smith was on bail for the sexual offending and charges of blackmail against a man who later killed himself.

He tracked the boy's family down to a Wellington house where they had moved to escape him.

Smith was subject to a minimum non-parole period of 13 years, but his parole eligibility was extended until 2013 after fraud convictions committed in prison between 2006 and 2010.

Since then, Smith has constantly been declined parole, the decision said.

He would next appear for parole in November, when the board would also consider a psychological report.

Smith allegedly fled to South America while on temporary release from Spring Hill Corrections Facility in South Auckland last November.

He was caught in Rio de Janeiro a week after he left New Zealand.

He faces charges of escaping lawful custody and making a false statement to renew a passport.