Wanted dad says baby Caitlin is fine

Stephen Jelicich with his daughter, Caitlin.

Fugitive father Stephen Jelicich vows to stay on the run with his baby daughter unless he is guaranteed a new court hearing in his custody battle with the baby's mother.

Speaking exclusively to the Herald from his hiding place, Mr Jelicich said he would hand the baby over if police found them.

"I'm not going to play silly games with my daughter. I'm not going to be taking her in my arms and jumping fences to get away," he said.

"But until they do catch up with me I've got the opportunity to get the issues out in public and put pressure where pressure needs to be put."

Mr Jelicich has been on the run with 5-month-old Caitlin since breaking a court order to return the baby to her mother on January 9.

Police swooped at the weekend on a Port Waikato property where they believed Mr Jelicich had been staying with Caitlin for a week.

A few hours later Mr Jelicich contacted the Herald. He said he had left Port Waikato well before the police arrived.

He had visited neighbours there and had cups of tea with them in the days before the case became public.

 

Mr Jelicich would not reveal where he was heading next but said he would not try to leave the country.

He said he would give himself up if guaranteed a new court hearing.

"Obviously I can't carry on this forever but Caitlin has got to be given a fair go and somebody has to give a hoot about her welfare."

The 39-year-old said Caitlin was fine and her welfare was his priority.

The baby was supposed to leave for Wales on January 10 with her mother, Diane Jelicich, after a Family Court judge ruled that custody should be decided in Britain. Caitlin was born in Wales but has dual citizenship.

Mrs Jelicich left on a scheduled flight with her 11-year-old daughter from a previous marriage but plans to return to New Zealand this week.

A police spokesman yesterday warned that relatives helping Mr Jelicich could face criminal charges for blocking a police inquiry.

Speaking to the Herald from Wales last night, Mrs Jelicich appealed for her estranged husband to hand over their daughter to police.

"I just want my little girl back. He hasn't played fair by me and I want my little girl back. He's blown little things out of proportion. I miss her so much. I'm absolutely devastated."

Mr and Mrs Jelicich went to court last month when their relationship soured during a New Zealand holiday. Mr Jelicich claims the court hearings were rushed because of the holidays, relevant facts were not presented and he was given insufficient time to prepare a case.

Mrs Jelicich said both parties were given short notice of the hearing but she believed the process was fair. She wanted a custody agreement that included Mr Jelicich in Caitlin's life.

"I've always wanted Caitlin to be part of Stephen's life. I would never keep him away from his little girl."

Mr Jelicich said he wanted the case heard in New Zealand so information from hospital and police records was available.

He did not want Caitlin to be without her mother but also wanted "a fair access arrangement".

Mrs Jelicich said she had nothing to hide and had requested her mental health reports, which would be presented at any hearing in Britain.

Mr Jelicich said he had had no choice but to go on the run.

"I was supposed to return Caitlin to her mother on the morning of [Sunday] the 9th. On the Friday night I was giving my girl dinner and thought, this is the second to last time I'm going to be doing this'," he said, his voice breaking.

"I was basically going to hand her over to her mother knowing the life she was going to. I couldn't do that to her. She deserves more than that.

"The next day I rushed around to get everything organised. Bubs has not wanted for anything."

People should not be concerned about his ability to care for Caitlin.

He had enough baby supplies to last about a month, and had taken a microwave with him to heat Caitlin's bottles.

She had been bottle-fed since birth, he said.

Mr Jelicich said he felt "destroyed" by the court system.

He questioned how the same judge who decided the case should be heard in Britain could preside over an assault charge his wife was facing at the same time.

Mrs Jelicich was remanded to reappear in court on January 13 but the charge was withdrawn last week.

Police said lawyers representing Mr and Mrs Jelicich appeared in court and agreed to withdraw the charge.

Mr Jelicich said he was not represented in court and did not have a lawyer. He wants police to pursue his complaint. Mrs Jelicich said she would defend the charge.

Both parties described their relationship, which began when the couple met over the internet four years ago, as volatile.

Mr Jelicich said they had agreed to stay in Wales for five years and then move to New Zealand.

"In Swansea we were struggling, living in a council flat. I want my daughter to have better than that. I can make good money in New Zealand."

Mrs Jelicich said her husband did not like living in Wales but she did not want to live in New Zealand.

The Jelicich family told the Herald yesterday that they were taking legal advice on behalf of Stephen.