Two Escape From Paparua Gaol

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 1

Two Escape From Paparua Gaol

Police and prison officers manning road blocks and carrying out intensive patrols had by late last evening found no trace of two prisoners who escaped from Paparua Prison at 12.25 p.m. yesterday. They were in a gang building a prison staff house three-quarters of a mile from the main buildings.

The prisoners took a car belonging to the matron of the women’s division at the prison. The car was in a garage at her house. They started the car without the ignition keys. “The prisoners are not dangerous,” said the deputy superintendent (Mr J. O. Cruse). “We would be very surprised if they resorted to violence. We consider that they took off on the spur of the moment. Of course, once away they had to keep going.” The car is a Morris Minor, fawn-coloured, 1957, licence number AN1603.

shirts,’ blue denim trousers and black boots when they escaped. Tipa was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on March 18, 1965, on a charge of burglary. He was due for release, with remission for good behaviour, in about 15 months. Dick was sentenced to three years fours months’ gaol on August 21, 1964, on charges of unlawfully entering a car, car conversion and burglary. With remission for good behaviour he was due for release about October this year. In Workers’ Party

The prisoners are: Melvin John Tipa, aged 30, sft B)in. described as a loose-limbed man, with very thin facial features, who walks with a slouch and has his head thrust forward. He is a Maori, and has black hair, copper complexion, brown eyes, a scar on the left side of his forehead and one on his left forearm.

The two prisoners were in a party of five under the control of a prison officer who is a qualified carpenter. The five were putting a roof on a prison staff house off Church road, about three-quarters of a mile from the main prison block.

The prison officer-instructor was on the roof helping nail down roofing iron. He told Tipa and Dick to get down and saw more sarking for the roof.

Anthony Ronald Dick, aged 23. a New Zealander. sft lOin of strong, solid build, very fresh complexion, green eyes and brown hair. Passed Examination

Later, he could not find them. He then noticed that the matron’s car was missing from the garage at her house, about 50 feet away from the house under construction.

Last year. Dick was given permission to study full-time for his school certificate. He sat the examination in November and passed. Both prisoners have had good behaviour and work records while at the prison. They were wearing grey jackets, open-necked check

The alarm was given, the alert sounded and the police informed of the escape within 25 minutes.

The matron's car had five gallons of petrol in it. giving the car a range of about 150 miles.