Graham Philip

{{Short description|New Zealand conspiracy theorist}} '''Graham John Philip''' (born 1960) is a [[New Zealand]] [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorist]] and convicted criminal. He was the first person in New Zealand history charged with [[sabotage]], after he attacked [[National Grid (New Zealand)|New Zealand's electrical grid]] in an attempt to cut power to the entire [[North Island]] in 2021.

==Early life== Philip was born in [[Hackney, London]] in 1960.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Tale of Two Vicarages |first=GJ |last=Philip |date=24 September 2019 |asin=B07YCSQS1Q}}</ref> While he was young, the family moved to [[Petone]] in [[Wellington]], New Zealand, when his father got a job there. Philip described his father as emotionally manipulative towards him and his brother David. Philip returned to London in his twenties, working for [[Dolby]] as a sound engineer. In May 1988, David, having previously escaped a [[Psychiatric hospital|mental health facility]], stabbed fellow vagrant Kyung Eup Lee to death in Melbourne during an argument over [[squatting]]. David then dismembered Lee's body, [[Human cannibalism|cooked and ate his flesh]], and spread other body parts around.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/the-case-of-the-cannibal-killer-david-philip-accused-of-eating-murder-victim-kyung-eup-lee/news-story/d86f8406d0c70eb4caad1b041206fde4 |title=The case of the cannibal killer David Philip accused of eating murder victim Kyung Eup Lee |date=21 January 2013 |work=Herald Sun |first=Mark |last=Dunn}}</ref> Philip visited David in prison after complying with a [[vaccine]] requirement. He eventually moved back to New Zealand, living in [[Hāwera]], [[Rotorua]] where he worked as a high school teacher, and [[Taupō]] where he worked at a computer repair shop.<ref name="life">{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/childhood-abuse-a-cannibal-brother-and-covid-conspiracies-the-life-of-saboteur-graham-philip/EGFJSCKUKJB4JG3D7LWFSHA4L4/ |title=Childhood abuse, a cannibal brother and Covid conspiracies: The life of saboteur Graham Philip |date=1 December 2022 |work=New Zealand Herald |first=Ethan |last=Griffiths}}</ref><ref name="trout">{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130396430/graham-philip-trout-fisherman-fanfiction-author-saboteur |title=Graham Philip: Trout fisherman, fan-fiction author, saboteur |date=10 November 2022 |work=Stuff |first=Charlie |last=Mitchell}}</ref><ref name="who">{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/who-is-graham-philip-the-first-kiwi-convicted-of-sabotage/2WHL72EOE4ZM2L3WNQDBJEYPRI/ |title=Who is Graham Philip, the first Kiwi convicted of sabotage? |date=4 November 2022 |work=New Zealand Herald |first=Ethan |last=Griffiths}}</ref>

==Conspiracy theories and crimes== Philip was radicalised online during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. He supported [[False claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election|Donald Trump's false claims of election fraud in the 2020 United States presidential election]] and [[QAnon]]-related conspiracy theories. Philip became an anti-vaccination activist and COVID-19 conspiracy theorist, expressing "paranoid and apocalyptic views" and gaining hundreds of followers online. He claimed that the [[COVID-19 vaccine]] was designed by a Satanic cabal to cause mass death and depopulate the world. He believed society would soon collapse and got involved in the [[prepping]] community, where he instructed people how to make explosives.<ref name="life"/><ref name="trout"/>

Philip took part in stunts such as wearing a [[Snorkel (swimming)|snorkel]] inside stores to protest [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|mask mandates]] and setting up a table on a street in Taupō with a sign saying "Change my mind: Covid-19 is fake", inspired by [[Steven Crowder]]. He self-published several books, including ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[fan fiction]], many of which contained vaccine conspiracy plots in his effort to "[[red pill]]" readers. On his [[Gab (social network)|Gab]] account and his [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] radio show, he called for [[military tribunal]]s to sentence people to death for war crimes and treason, including Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]], all other members of the [[New Zealand Parliament]], and various journalists, academics, and health bureaucrats.<ref name="life"/><ref name="trout"/><ref name="who"/>

After an altercation when Philip was denied entry to a bank, a police officer visited his home on 29 September 2021. Philip took a photo of the officer's badge number and posted it online with threats to "make him pay". He also posted photos of [[electrical substation]]s and [[transformer]]s, implying to his followers that they should use tools to attack them, and in his Telegram radio show spoke of his plans to do so himself. Between 6 November and 27 November, Philip carried out attacks on [[Transpower New Zealand]] infrastructure, with one attack resulting in a fire. He caused an estimated $1.25 million in damages.<ref name="life"/><ref name="trout"/><ref name="guilty"/>

===Arrest=== Philip was arrested at his home in [[Acacia Bay]] on 8 December 2021. His vehicle and electronic devices were taken by police, and Philip was sent to [[Spring Hill Corrections Facility]].<ref name="trout"/> His name and the details of his offending were subject to a [[suppression order]]. His wife Marta and fellow conspiracy theorists seized on the lack of details, portraying him as a [[political prisoner]] and campaigning for his release, including fundraising for his legal fees and protesting outside of courthouses.<ref name="life"/> Name suppression was lifted in July 2022, though his name had been spread through social media since at least February,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300616031/graham-philip-is-charged-with-sabotage-thats-all-we-can-tell-you |title=Graham Philip is charged with sabotage. That's all we can tell you |date=30 July 2022 |work=Stuff |first=Charlie |last=Mitchell}}</ref> and far-right conspiracy platform ''[[Counterspin Media]]'' had published an interview with Marta in May.<ref name="trout"/>

Philip was initially charged with seven counts of wilful damage, but this was upgraded to sabotage in early 2022. He was also charged with one count of unlawfully entering agricultural land. After previously entering a not guilty plea,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129417838/public-may-never-know-details-of-nzs-first-sabotage-case |title=Public may never know details of NZ's first sabotage case |date=29 July 2022 |work=Stuff |first=Benn |last=Bathgate}}</ref> he changed his plea to guilty for all charges on 4 November 2022.<ref name="guilty">{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130065470/new-zealand-legal-history-made-as-graham-philip-pleads-guilty-to-sabotage |title=New Zealand legal history made as Graham Philip pleads guilty to sabotage |date=4 November 2022 |work=Stuff |first=Benn |last=Bathgate}}</ref> On 1 December 2022, Philip was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, and the suppression order partly lapsed, publicly revealing for the first time what he had targeted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130623195/saboteur-graham-philip-jailed-for-trying-to-cut-power-to-entire-north-island |title=Saboteur Graham Philip jailed for trying to cut power to entire North Island |date=1 December 2022 |work=Stuff |first=Benn |last=Bathgate}}</ref>

Philip also faced a separate $300 charge for breaching [[COVID-19 lockdown]] laws at a protest in Taupō on 31 August 2021. He went to trial on 19 December 2022 and represented himself, having pleaded not guilty. He cited [[Magna Carta]] in his defence,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129762785/magna-carta-and-the-wisdom-of-charles-ii-form-graham-philips-defence-against-covid-infringement-charge |title=Magna Carta and 'the wisdom of Charles II' form Graham Philip's defence against Covid infringement charge |date=13 September 2022 |work=Stuff |first=Benn |last=Bathgate}}</ref> a tactic common in the [[sovereign citizen movement]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/coronavirus-causes-rise-in-bizarre-sovereign-citizens-movement/news-story/e6868c633245824cc2cbaefc7be1277b |title=Coronavirus causes rise in bizarre 'sovereign citizens' movement |date=16 May 2020 |website=news.com.au |first=Benedict |last=Brook}}</ref> The infringement notice was upheld, but the charge was waived as Philip is in prison and unable to pay.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130802895/convicted-saboteur-graham-philip-fails-to-get-covid-infringement-wiped |title=Convicted saboteur Graham Philip fails to get Covid infringement wiped |date=19 December 2022 |work=Stuff |first=Benn |last=Bathgate}}</ref>

Philip was denied parole in January 2023, due to not having had a psychological assessment, having no release plan, and being seen as an undue risk to the community by showing no remorse.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/131026767/parole-denied-for-graham-philip-the-first-new-zealander-jailed-for-sabotage |title=Parole denied for Graham Philip, the first New Zealander jailed for sabotage |date=20 January 2023 |work=Stuff |first=Benn |last=Bathgate}}</ref>

Philip was released from prison on 8 January 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/power-grid-saboteur-graham-philip-released-from-prison-but-will-remain-on-electronic-monitoring/WTVG6CVFGRGYDPQDDRVWEJBTZY/ |title=Power grid saboteur Graham Philip released from prison but will remain on electronic monitoring |date=8 January 2025 |work=New Zealand Herald |first=Ric |last=Stevens}}</ref>

==Personal life== Philip is married to Marta, a Brazilian woman, with whom he has three children. He is a devout [[Christians|Christian]] with [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] views, having turned to the faith at the age of 19. He credited Christianity for him not turning out like his brother,<ref name="life"/> and claimed it cured him of [[schizophrenia]].<ref name="trout"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Philip, Graham}} [[Category:1960 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Hackney, London]] [[Category:English emigrants to New Zealand]] [[Category:New Zealand Christians]] [[Category:Christian fundamentalists]] [[Category:New Zealand anti-vaccination activists]] [[Category:COVID-19 conspiracy theorists]] [[Category:New Zealand conspiracy theorists]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand criminals]] [[Category:Saboteurs]] [[Category:People with schizophrenia]]