Policeman hurt in prisoner break-out

Press, 11 March 1983, Page 1

Policeman hurt in prisoner break-out

Five prisoners rushed their police escorts before an alleged armed robber. Michael Moananui, escaped from a prison van at the District Court yesterday. Moananui, aged 22, who is described by the police as dangerous, was still at large last evening in spite of a big police hunt. One policeman was injured in the struggle inside the District Court yard ■at 9.20 a.m.

As usual, the yard gates had been closed after the van had pulled in with prisoners due for court appearances. When the van doors were opened, five of about 10 prisoners inside had charged the four-man police escort, said Senior-Sergeant A. R. Lynch.

Moananui had used his belt like a flail, hitting Constable Sidney Burt on an arm with the buckle, said Senior-Ser-geant Lynch. Constable Burt needed hospital treatment. As the four policemen struggled with the prisoners, Moananui climbed over a 2m wall and sprinted off up Durham Street.

A police team equipped with dogs and long batons descended on a house in

Gloucester Street about midday, but a search and interviews with the occupants revealed no trace of Moananui. The police believed that he might have just left the premises. Seyeral other city houses

had been searched and some reported sightings of Moananui checked, all without success, said Detective Sergeant D. M. Quested. Four of the prisoners in the van will be charged today in connection with Moananui’s escape. Moananui, a member of the Black Power gang, had been arrested on Wednesday. He was to have appeared in. court yesterday charged with the armed hold-up of a Hutt Valley service station last month. It is alleged that while armed with a knife and a rifle, Moananui and another man ’ robbed John David

Romijn of cash and cheques to the total value of $3642. Senior-Sergeant Lynch warned that Moananui should not be approached, but that anyone who might have seen him should get in touch with the Christchurch Central Police Station immediately. Moananui is described as a Maori, 180 cm (sft Ilin) tall, of medium to solid build. He has a fist tattooed in the middle of the forehead, and two stars near the left eye. He also had a moustache and a scruffy beard, but these might now have been shaved off, the police said.

Court report, page 4