Prisoner escaped to protect sister’s home

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 18

Prisoner escaped to protect sister’s home

PA Wellington A prisoner escaped and cut down a rifle in order to protect his sister and , her children, the District Court at Upper Hutt was told on Tuesday. William Pemell Smith was charged with escaping and with unlawful possession of a pistol. Smith pleaded guilty to both charges, and was remanded in custody to November 27 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Mike Driscoll

said Smith was serving an 18-month sentence in Wi Tako Prison. About 8.30 p.m. on October 3, he was helped over a fence and escaped. On October 7, the police went to a house in Upper Hutt and found Smith in the lounge hiding behind a couch. A cut-down .22 rifle and an air rifle were found on the lounge floor. Smith showed the police a magazine with 11 rounds of .22 ammunition in a

bedroom. Sergeant Driscoll said Smith told them that he escaped because of family problems. His sister’s house in Upper Hutt had been deliberately burnt on August 24. “Since then there had been threats of violence between two opposing groups and the defendant had said he had only wished to protect his sister and her children,” Mr Driscoll said.