One day before he was recaptured, wanted murder accused Sheldon “Rhino” Thomas claimed he escaped from St Ann's Psychiatric Hospital last Tuesday because he was being beaten too much by prison officers. Thomas, 31, is due to appear before a before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today charged with escaping lawful custody.
In a text message sent to the T&T Guardian on Saturday at 11.34 am, Thomas, 31, wrote: “Morning to you sir, this (is) Sheldon Thomas, from small I ran away from home because of licks. I am getting plenty licks in d prison 12 years without a trial. Last year prison officers tape me an it is very prejudice 4my trial, its unbearable I cant take it no more they force me to take my freedom, mask men at d prison beat me for absolutely nothing I got licks 3 times this year on the 18 of February I was beaten in the ecrc (Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre) prison. it got a camera system there get a view u will see wat am going tru (through) I thank GOD FOR MY FREEDOM I AM NOT COMMITTING A SINGLE CRIME, AM ENJOYING PEACE.”
Thomas’s mother Claudine Henry gave a similar story when she spoke to the T&T Guardian the day her son escaped. She said she believed her son, one of six who had escaped, was frustrated and that was his reason for escaping. She said her son had been incarcerated for the past 11 years and that would frustrate anyone, but she alleged he was also constantly abused by prison guards.
The taping Thomas referred to was footage which went viral on Facebook showing him threatening the lives of prison officers if they entered his cell to beat him. Thomas was captured by officers from the Western Division Task Force and the Coast Guard on Saturday night. He was captured alongside a 21-year-old Venezuelan national at a jetty in Carenage.
According to police, on Saturday they received information and went to the jetty where they saw Thomas. However, when he saw the officers Thomas jumped into the sea and swam underneath the jetty. The Venezuela national was apprehended but the police called the Coast Guard for their assistance. Several hours later, Thomas was arrested and Immigration officers were called in.
—With reporting by Camille Clarke