A Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer stands guard on Metcalfe Street
A Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer stands guard on Metcalfe Street following shootings in downtown Ottawa October 22, 2014. A Canadian soldier was shot at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa and a gunman was shot and killed in a nearby parliament building, media and witnesses reported. Reuters

New Zealand's dreaded killer, Phillip Smith, who jumped parole and fled to Brazil has been arrested in that country. Smith fled New Zealand last Thursday when he was released from Spring Hill prison in Waikato.

The 40-year-old was arrested from an international hostel in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. He was caught, after a woman staffer recognised him, from a television mug shot and alerted the police. Smith was serving a jail term in New Zealand for brutally killing the father of a young boy, whom he had abused sexually.

The video of Smith's arrest, showed the Brazil police demanding him to show his documents. After initial hesitation, Smith was seen taking out the infamous passport that he obtained using his birth name Phillip Traynor, reports 3 News.

False Name

The hostel register showed that Smith checked in under another name. The hostel manager said the fugitive had paid money for staying two nights. He gave the name as James Andrews and claimed he was from Australia. The hostel gave him a shared room with three others at the hostel. "He was calm and polite," said the hostel manager. One guy who shared the room with him asked, 'What are you doing here?' to which he replied, " I am looking for a wife."

Police said Smith had been spending his time on the internet. A CCTV shot showed his laptop, which was on lying his bed side, during the police raid. Smith had queried with another tourist about sharing a hired car. Smith was calm at the time of arrest though he was surprised when police confronted him. But he tried to resist when he was handcuffed. Despite Smith immaculately planning his escape on temporary prison leave, he hardly changed his appearance after leaving New Zealand. That must have led to his easy arrest.

It is possible that Smith will be deported or extradited from Brazil, in the coming days. Assistant Police Commissioner Malcolm Burgess said "Brzail police did some outstanding work and I want to thank them for it" . When Smith returns, he will face fresh charges. It will also spell trouble for his parole sponsor. Smith's New Zealand lawyer, Tony Ellis, hopes Smith will be home sooner but said his client's escape plan was not a smart idea. "His euphoria of escaping might have turned into acute depression", the lawyer said.

Reward For Brazilian Woman

Meanwhile, the Brazilian woman who alerted the police that led to Phillip Smith's arrest will be offered a free trip to New Zealand, by a Nelson lawyer, reported Stuff.Co.Nz.

Lawyer John Fitchett said he would like to thank the woman who identified the fugitive. He promised to pay for her flight tickets to New Zealand and urged tour operators to make the holiday happen.