Four escape from prison

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34021, 10 December 1975, Page 22

Four escape from prison

A Z Association) NEW PLYMOUTH. December 9. Four prisoners, all serving long sentences, broke out of the New Plymouth gaol tonight. The police said that none of the men should be approached by the public. The escapers—whose sentences were for charges including rape, assault, burg’ary and car conversion—are Tamati Peneha. Patrick Cunningham. Bo Pousie Wilson and James John Sarich. Road-blocks have been set up throughout the province and the notice urged the public to check locked vehicles and report any possible sightings immediately. The four apparently escaped through the roof of the prison’s east wing and fled through the prison gardens and a nearby stream, between 7.50 and 8.05 p.m. A police dog followed their tracks to the stream, but was unable to pick up the scent on the other side. The four are described as follows: Peneha. aged 22. Maori,

'sft 3in tall, with numerous j tattoos. Cunningham, aged 22. European. sft 3in tall, fresh 'complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, scar on right thumb. He also has a sailing ship tattooed on his right arm.

Wilson, aged 19, Maori, sft Bin tall, also with numerous tattoos.

Sarich. aged 20, Maori, sft tall. Peneha was sentenced to two years gaol in Wellington in May, 1974, on charges of assault with intent to rob, and a further year in October, 1974. on a charge of injuring in circumstances that if death had occurred, he would have been guilty of manslaughter. I Cunningham was sentenced in Taupo on September. 1974. Ito three years gaol on seven charges of burglary, five of 'unlawfully taking vehicles (and charges of being found [in a building without lawful I excuse and being in possession of instruments for taking narcotics.

I Wilson is serving a twoyear term for robbery, 'imposed at Hamilton on March 27. and a further term lof six months for escaping I from custody and taking a vehicle unlawfully.

Sarich is serving a term of two years and a half, on a charge of rape. He was convicted in Wellington last March. He is serving an additional six months for assault with intent to injure.