Fears for witnesses’ safety after escapes

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 6

Fears for witnesses’ safety after escapes

PA Auckland Witnesses in a coming murder trial have been given special police protection since the escape of two men from Oakley Hospital yesterday.

One of the escapers is Steven John Forsythe, aged 18, who is awaiting trial on a charge of the murder of his brother.

Detective Inspector Barry Matthews, of the Auckland Central C. 1.8., said last evening, “Certain steps have been taken in respect of people giving evidence at that trial." He declined to elaborate.

With Clive Thomas Steven, aged 38, Forsythe escaped from M 3, the security wing at Oakley Hospital, at midday.

Steven, a committed patient at mental hospitals for the last 10 vears after

being found unfit to plead to a charge of murdering his mother, had previously escaped from Sunnyside Hospital. Christchurch, and in November spent four days at large after escaping from Oaklev.

Inspector Matthews said the two patients were seen by staff at Oakley going over the wall about noon. Road blocks were spread round a substantial area close to the hospital and all nearby residents warned of the escape. Oakley staff chased the pair through Oakley Creek and on to the Great North Road towards Avondale, but lost them when they went into properties. A man, aged 80, saw one of the escapers crouching behind a bush in a Fairlands Avenue property and asked him what he was doing. The patient said he was

hiding from a friend. Not knowing of the escape, the man had a brief conversation before the escaper made off. Inspector Matthews said that a hammer had been reported stolen from a house in Fairlands Avenue and it was possible the escapers had it.

He said they might have split up soon after escaping. Both escapers had to be considered dangerous and should not be approached. Inspector Matthews said. The police said Steven is a European. 178 cm (sft lOin) tall, of medium build, with brown eyes and brown hair. Forsythe is also a European, 165 cm (sft sin) tall, of medium build with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a scar on the left forefinger, another on the right lower leg, and one on the stomach. Both men have tattoos.