Prisoner escapes

Press, 24 April 1979, Page 6

Prisoner escapes

PA Auckland Drug squad detectives are co-ordinating a search for a prisoner, John William Edgecock, who escaped from the Magistrate's Court of Auckland yesterday morning. The police would not reveal yesterday exactly how the prisoner escaped from custody. He made his freedom bid between the time he left a police van outside the court, just before 9.30 a.m., and 9.45 a.m. when a routine check of the cells was made. A police spokesman said

details of Edgecock’s escape could not be made public for security reasons. An internal police inquiry into the escape was expected to be made. Edgecock was reporter! to have travelled with a number of other prisoners on a bus from Mount Eden Prison to the court. He made a run when he spotted a chance and managed to elude officers on duty. Suggestions tha t he might have been assisted in his escape by a member of the public were denied by the police.

A description and photographs of the escaper were circulated within hours of his disappearance, but late last night he had not been recaptured. Edgecock, an Australian, was arrested on Friday night. He appeared in court on Saturday, charged with possessing heroin for supply, and had been remanded in custody. He is 171 cm (sft Sin) tall with ginger-brow n hair and green eyes. He is not considered dangerous but the police are asking for any sightings of him to be reported immediately.