Mental patient still at large

2003-04-13 09:45

Grahamstown - A former police sergeant who escaped from a psychiatric hospital near Grahamstown on Friday was still at large on Sunday, Eastern Cape police said.

Captain Nomazwi Nkombisa said Ismael Hendricks was still thought to be heading to Cape Town.

Hendricks, arrested for the murder of five petrol attendants in Grassy Park last June, was declared mentally unfit to stand trial and was admitted to the Fort England psychiatric hospital.

Nkombisa said he was last seen playing pool with other patients at the hospital on Friday.

He escaped by simply walking out the building on Friday night despite being under the supervision of hospital security guards.

Hendricks was detained as a "State President's patient" which means he may not be released without the permission of a High Court Judge.

Nkombisa said Hendricks, a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, is 35-years-old, 1.5m tall and weighs 70kg.

He was wearing hospital pyjamas when last seen.

Hendricks was described as extremely dangerous and may be armed.

He should on no account be approached and any information should be passed on immediately to the local police, Nkombisa said.

- SAPA