A small group of prisoners mounted a deadly escape at Her Majesty’s Prison early yesterday morning that left one prison officer and one inmate dead, and a convict on the loose.
Up to press time on Tuesday, police were still hunting for Corey Douglas Hepburn and had issued a special warning to residents of the eastern area, particularly Elizabeth Estates.
“We’ve mounted an island-wide manhunt for this individual. We know that he frequents the eastern area, Elizabeth Estates in particular, so we want to say to residents in those communities to be extremely cautious as you move about,” said Chief Superintendent Hulan Hanna.
Tuesday morning’s prison break marked the third time that Hepburn, 36, who is a convicted armed robber and is considered armed and extremely dangerous, has escaped police custody.
The escape occurred around 4 o’clock in the morning and involved four prisoners.
During the escape, 38-year-old prison officer Corporal Dion Bowles was killed.
Officials reported at a press conference held hours after the prison break that Corporal Bowles, a prison officer of 13 years, died from multiple stab wounds to the upper body.
His family members said they had received reports that he had been tied up and gagged, although prison officials had not confirmed this.
Also killed during the escape was Neil Brown, who was convicted of the 2000 murder of Archdeacon William Thompson.
Inmates Forrester Bowe, 29, a convicted murderer whose case is now before the Privy Council in London; and convicted rapist Barry Parcoi, 42, who is serving a life sentence and escaped from prison last year, were also injured during the incident.
Bowe, who was shot, and Parcoi were treated for their injuries and were returned to the prison compound Tuesday morning.
Prison officers Kenneth Sweeting and David Armbrister were injured during the escape but their injuries were not considered life threatening.
Officials did not release specific details on the escape and refused to take questions from the press, citing that the matter was still under investigation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Cynthia Pratt said that no effort would be spared to get to the bottom of this matter, who was responsible and how it happened.
“We owe it to the fallen officer and those officers injured to be sure that this will not happen again,” said Mrs. Pratt, adding that the government would ensure that all of its resources are brought to bear to support the families of the deceased officer, and the officers who were injured in the line of duty.
Mrs. Pratt said that there would ultimately be a Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths and an official inquiry into the circumstances of the escape, so that “we can learn lessons for the future.”
“I assure the public that the prison is under control,” Mrs. Pratt said at the press conference. “I assure the public that all will be done to ensure that the public remains safe and secure. The prison officers are in full control and all inmates are in firm custody.”
All will be done to bring the perpetrators to justice, said the deputy prime minister.
Prison Superintendent Dr. Elliston Rahming said that the prison would conduct its own inquiry and also assured the public that the security of the prison remains intact.
“The recapture of the inmates and their return to custody was done through the heroic efforts of four prison officers,” said Dr. Rahming, who was appointed Prison Superintendent last year. “The remaining duty officers stayed calm and maintained the security of the prison.”
Dr. Rahming indicated last year during an appearance on Love 97’s “Jones and Company” that the perimeter of the prison is not fortified, even though there are more than 1,400 inmates being housed at the facility.
While security at the facility is often cited as a problem, it has also been suggested that in order to address trouble at the prison, the degrading and dehumanising condition in maximum should first be dealt with.
Her Majesty’s Prison has often come under fire from international human rights organisations for the “deplorable” conditions under which inmates have to live.
Hepburn, a former resident of Elizabeth Estates, reportedly escaped from police custody for the first time in August 2004 and less than one week after being recaptured escaped again.
Parcoi first escaped from Her Majesty’s Prison in early March 2004, and at the time had already served 19 years of his life sentence for rape and forcible detention.
His rap sheet includes a conviction in 1991 for escaping from lawful custody and he was sentenced to an additional two years in prison.
In 1993 he was sentenced to an additional six months in prison for attempting to escape. But he had been in and out of prison long before that.
Parcoi was sent to prison on a remand warrant in 1986 and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.
In May 1986, he was convicted and received an 18-month prison sentence. In 1987, Parcoi was further sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on four counts of armed robbery.
In 1993, he was sentenced to 20 years for armed robbery; in early 1994 he received a two-year sentence for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition; and in May 1994, Parcoi was sentenced to life in prison.
Following his escape last year, Parcoi was picked up in Fresh Creek, Andros and returned to prison.
Chief Superintendent Hanna said that police have mounted a comprehensive investigation into the incident, which is being led by Chief Superintended Marvin Dames.
Chief Superintendent Hanna warned members of the public that helping an escaped convict is a criminal offence punishable by law.
“If you provide them with water, with food, with clothing, with a place to live or you give them information that will aid in their further escape you have committed a criminal offence,” he said.
Anyone with information on Hepburn’s whereabouts is being asked to contact the police at 328-8477 or 919. All information will be kept in the strictest of confidence.
By: Erica Wells, The Bahama Journal
