Cops catch 'serial escapee'
2008-03-16 19:43
Wellington - An escaped prisoner was re-arrested after he and six awaiting-trial prisoners escaped from prison here, said police on Sunday.
Superintendent Mzukisi Fatyela said Ndzondelelo Mafanya 27, was re-arrested on Friday night after a shoot-out with police.
"He was shot in the leg and taken to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital under police guard."
Fatyela said a 9mm pistol and four rounds of ammunition were recovered. Mafanya had escaped twice since his initial arrest.
He initially was charged for murder and armed robbery, and now faced two additional charges of escaping from custody and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Three died in shoot-outs
Mafanya was among seven prisoners who escaped from their cell in Wellington Prison on the night of August 31 by sawing through two burglar bars.
The men had been arrested for crimes such as murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, theft and assault.
Three of the seven died during shoot-outs with police, and two others were wounded during separate shooting incidents and had since been jailed.
With Mafanya's arrest, only one prisoner of the seven was still on the run.
- SAPA