Escaper caught at Timaru

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 2

Escaper caught at Timaru

A Paparua Prison inmate who escaped from the Magistrate’s Court in Christchurch yesterday morning was recaptured in Timaru yesterday afternoon.

He is William John Reaich, aged 20, who was due to appear on a charge of escaping from Paparua Prison on March 13. When his name was called at 11.30 a.m. Sergeant Shanahan told Mr F. G. Paterson, S. M. that Reaich had disappeared since arriving at court. He was later arrested outside the Timaru Post Office, where he had fled in a car he had allegedly converted.

Reaich was caught by the Timaru police when the car, which had been reported taken frpm near the Magistrate’s Court in Christchurch, was seen parked outside the public telephone-boxes at the post office. No resistance was offered to the police. Reaich appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Timaru later in the afternoon, barefooted and handcuffed to a constable. Counsel (Mr J. R. McGlashan) did not oppose a remand to Christchurch to April. 10, on charges of escaping from lawful custody and unlawfully taking a motorvehicle. Reaich was remanded in custody.