The mother of three children, who vanished with their father Tom Phillips in 2021, had appeared in court on a drunk driving charge the very same day her estranged partner was fatally shot.

Catherine ‘Cat’ Christey, 46, was having her own legal troubles when Tom was involved in a shootout with cops on September 8.

One of their three children witnessed the father being fatally shot in the confrontation.

Catherine ‘Cat’ Christey had appeared in court on a drunk driving charge the very same day her estranged partner was fatally shot

The shootout that ended Tom’s life took place after cops were informed of a possible break-in at a farm goods store in the small town of Poipoi.

The town was located close to where the father was hiding out with his children: Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember

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