Murder accused still on the run after fleeing from Lusignan jail
-recaptured escapees jailed for three years each
Alex Mathias and Arnold Bruce Kennedy, two of the three prisoners who fled from the Lusignan Prison more than two weeks ago were earlier this week sentenced to three years imprisonment each after they admitted to escaping from lawful custody.
Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels yesterday told Stabroek
News that the duo pleaded guilty to the charge which was read to them virtually.
The third prisoner, Mark Rafino remains on the run. Samuels said to date, a number of searches were carried out but Rafino has not been located.
Mathias and Kennedy were recaptured at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo on the evening of Ocotber 21st, hours after they fled from the facility where they were incarcerated.
The police had said that Mathias of Good Hope Dock Yard, Essequibo
and Kennedy of Lot 847 Zeeburg Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD) had entered a vehicle and the police later carried out an interception.
The incident had occurred sometime between 5.30 pm on October 20th and 6 am the following day.
The police had said investigations revealed that the prisoners escaped by scaling the south eastern fence of the facility.
Around 5 pm on October 20th, the police said the prisoners were locked in. Hours after, Joint Services ranks on the ground received information that the prisoners had escaped.
“An alarm was raised and the ranks immediately conducted checks around the prisons and its nearby environs but did not locate anyone,” the police said.
A head count was conducted around 6am on October 21st during which it was discovered that the three prisoners were missing.
Mathias is accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Kevin Bettencourt at Pomona, Essequibo Coast on December 31st, 2018.
Kennedy was among three suspects who were charged with the chopping to death of Alvin Gajraj called `Chockoloo’ on July 18, 2019 at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).
Rufino and four others were remanded to prison for allegedly murdering Better Hope moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter, Arian Latchman, in the course or furtherance of a robbery.
The Latchmans were killed by armed bandits at their 58 Robert Street, Better Hope North home on July 4th, 2019.
Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Rafino is asked to contact the nearest police station or 225-6411.