A pile of items potentially recovered from Tom Phillips’ remote campsites have been photographed from the sky as police continue their investigations.
On Tuesday, police revealed an image of the campsite where two of the children were found on Monday, followed by images of the main campsite where Phillips had been operating from in recent months.
Phillips had been hiding out in the dense bushland for nearly four years, and police understood he had moved around frequently.
They were continuing investigations in the area, as well as for those who may have assisted him.
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New aerial images, made available from photo agency Getty, show at least four police vehicles parked next to a clearing along a winding gravel road next to the thick bush.
The Herald said the spot was located around 7km from where Phillips was shot dead by police after his quad bike was spiked early on Monday morning.
He was shot after opening fire and injuring a police officer, who remains in hospital.
The images show a quad bike and motorbike next to a large pile of items.
Speaking on the investigation of the campsites yesterday, Detective Inspector Daryl Smith said police staff had “spent three days canvassing the area, traversing some extremely difficult terrain, in dense bush”.
“An examination of the located sites is continuing today and is expected to be completed tomorrow.”
On Friday morning, a 1News reporter at the cordon along Te Anga Rd said only residents were being allowed access to the road.
He said yesterday afternoon a trailer load of smaller items from the campsite was driven out, but there had been no sign of the motorbike or quad bike used by Phillips in previous burglaries.
Waikato Acting District Commander Andrea McBeth said examinations of the campsites believed to have been used by Phillips were also expected to conclude today.
“The investigation team is continuing to work at pace with poor weather forecast for the next few days. They are working through areas of dense bush and difficult terrain where the sites were located,” she said on Friday afternoon.
She said while the scene examination was wrapping up, this phase of investigation work remained in its early stages.
New images show stash of items as Tom Phillips investigation continues, watch on TVNZ+
“We have a dedicated team working meticulously to examine the items that police have collected from the sites. These items will be critical into determining who exactly has been helping Tom.
“The campsites will be dismantled following the conclusion of the scene examination and the key items will be secured as evidence.”
McBeth said cordons remained in place on Te Anga Rd, but the road was expected to reopen later today.
Phillips’ body had been released to his family following a post-mortem examination on Thursday.
Meanwhile Phillips’ three children continue to be settled and are engaging well with those supporting them, Oranga Tamariki’s Warwick Morehu told 1News today.
“Oranga Tamariki is working at the direction of the Family Court and the parameters set by it,” he said.
“We have an experienced and dedicated team working with the children, who are all acutely aware of the responsibility bestowed upon them.”
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