Finding Of Inquiry On Prison Escape

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 12

Finding Of Inquiry On Prison Escape

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 20

The cell in Mount Eden prison from which the murderer, Angelo La Mattina, and his companion, Edward William Tell, escaped recently will be used solely for short-term prisoners in future. Other cells, similarly placed in the building, will also l>e restricted to short-term inmates.

This was announced in a statement by the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) today on an inquiry into the escape.

Mr Hanan said the prison superintendent had also directed intensification of searching procedures in the case of prisoners known to be security risks or whose escape was likely to cause widespread public concern. Mr Hanan said the two men had been able to obtain and conceal in their cell some unauthorised items, including two hacksaw blades.

After cutting through the bottom of one of the window bars they were able to loosen the top end in its concrete frame and force it - aside. Once outside they were able to pull the bar back in place so that it appeared intact to patrolling officers. The prisoners then made their way along an internal wall to the main wall of the prison and dropped to the ground outside Two Hours’ Start Inquiries indicated the escape occurred about 3.30 a.m. on the morning of April 2, but it was not detected until 5.40 a.m. when a telephone message was received, Mr Hanan said. A full-scale search was started immediately. Mr Hanan said investigation had shown it unlikely the bar had been interfered with before the night of the escape.

All windows and bars were checked daily.

Tests had shown the bar could be cut through quite easily in one night It was also clear that the operation could have been carried out with little noise.

It had not been possible to establish how the cutting tools had been smuggled into the institution, or how they came into the possession of the two prisoners.

All tools were under strict control, said Mr Hanan, and none was missing from the workshops. It was standard practice for all tools to be checked daily. Mr Hanan said it had become impossible to thoroughly search every prisoner and every cell each day. Snap searches were made at frequent intervals, but overcrowding and an inadequate building prevented the full security checks which would normally be imposed in a maximum security prison.