Escaped man dangerous, say police

Press, 7 December 1985, Page 1

Escaped man dangerous, say police

A man charged with the armed robbery of the Woolworths supermarket in Bishopdale escaped from Addington Prison yesterday afternoon. Mark Huia Bain has a history of escaping and is described by the police as dangerous. Bain, aged 25, is believed to have injured a foot as he jumped off a wall and fled the prison about 4.10 p.m. Prison staff saw Bain leap from a 9m wall which borders an exercise yard and the street, said a Sokesman for the Christurch police.

He then limped to a green Hillman Hunter, or similar vehicle.

Bain is believed to have climbed on to a roof to gain access to the wall.

The spokesman said that Bain should not be approached by the public. Bain, a sickness beneficiary, appeared in the District Court a week ago charged with the aggravated robbery of the Bishop-

dale supermarket on November 28. He is alleged to have been armed with a sawn-off shotgun. He was remanded in custody to December 11. Bain has been convicted of escaping three times since 1980.

He escaped from Paparua Prison twice last year — once when he went on a cross-country run and did not return.

When Bain appeared in the District Court in May last year on an escaping charge, his counsel said that he was addicted to drugs and had spent a considerable part of the last 10 years in institutions. The police have asked for anyone who knows the whereabouts of Bain to get in touch with the Christchurch Central Police Station. He is described as Maori, of thin build, 173 cm (sft Bin) tall, with tattoos on a wrist, forearms, and chest. He was wearing blue trousers and a blue sweatshirt.