TIGHTER SECURITY WOULD EASE CONCERNS

BY its very description as a farm facility at the Townsville Correctional Centre, security does not sound ironclad. But questions need to be asked about how three inmates were accounted for before 6.30pm on Monday but discovered missing about 8.30pm after a headcount.

Police believe the three men, Layne Rex Newman, Les Noel Nobel and Preston Donald Zane Quakawoot, escaped the Stuart facility with planning help from someone on the outside.

Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Hicks revealed yesterday the men were picked up by someone in a vehicle and driven away.

Given the window of time in which they escaped, they could have driven a

perhaps a more active observance of their incarceration would put the public’s mind at rest

great distance before the alarm was raised. Despite that, police are confident they are still in the Townsville area.

“All absconders have a large history within Townsville and surrounding areas, we are not just focusing on one area in relation to all three of them,” Senior Sergeant Hicks said.

Newman, who was one of the passengers in a stolen car that was involved in the death of Jennifer Board, is serving time for enter dwelling.

Quakawoot was involved in a highspeed chase through Ayr in 2019. He is serving time for assault police. Nobel is serving time for armed robbery.

Given the nature of their convictions, perhaps a more active observance of their incarceration would put the public’s mind at rest once they are rounded up and returned to the centre to complete their sentences.