Phillip John Smith is suing Corrections after authorities refused to let him wear a toupee. Photo: NZ HeraldBalding murderer and sex offender Phillip John Smith has told a court prison authorities are violating his human rights because they refuse to let him don a toupee. Smith is suing Corrections in the High Court at Auckland because they have prevented him wearing a hairpiece ever since he used one as part of a disguise to flee to Rio de Janeiro in November 2014. He told the court he began balding in his early 20s and hairpieces gave him the confidence to present himself in public. Prison authorities had not given him a valid reason why he could not wear a hairpiece and used exaggerated concerns about security to justify their decision, he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 06, 2017 00:11 UTC