An Aranguez man was yesterday detained by police for assisting three prisoners during their daring escape from the Port-of-Spain prison last Friday. The 38-year-old suspect, who police believe provided the Nissan Navara that was used by the prisoners as a getaway vehicle, was arrested at a mosque, in Enterprise, Chaguanas, around midday yesterday by Guard and Emergency Branch officers.
He remained detained under tight security at the Central Police Station, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, up to late yesterday and was expected to be questioned by investigators between last night and this morning. Police sources said investigators had been searching for the suspect since the jailbreak and were only able to make the arrest after they received an anonymous tip-off yesterday.
The man, who police said was behind the turf war in the Enterprise district last month, had gone into hiding. He is believed to have also supplied the weapons, which were sneaked into the prison, to the escapees. Meanwhile, Christopher “Monster” Selby, the last surviving escapee, remained detained at the St James Police Station up to late last night. Homicide detectives reportedly interviewed Selby for several hours yesterday afternoon.
A source close to the investigation said police were considering charging Selby with escaping lawful custody in addition to the murder of PC Sherman Maynard, who was shot dead by the prisoners as they bolted from the prison. However, Selby may be charged under the felony murder rule, under which accused persons are spared the death penalty in cases where death results from the commission of a lesser criminal offence, in this case escaping the prison.
Unlike traditional murder cases, persons charged with felony murder are also allowed to plead guilty before trial, in order to get a reduced sentence. Selby, Hassan Atwell and Allan “Scanny” Martin escaped from the Frederick Street prison around midday last Friday. Armed with firearms and a hand grenade, the men reportedly shot at Maynard and other officers who were driving past the prison. Maynard died shortly after at hospital.
The prisoners, who were on remand for separate crimes, crashed their getaway vehicle near the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and attempted to make their escape on foot. Martin, one of 12 men on trial for the murder of businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman, was cornered by police at a security guard booth at the hospital. He was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police.
On Sunday morning, Atwell was found murdered in East Dry River. Hours later, Selby surrendered to police at the Barataria Police Station. Speaking during the weekly press briefing yesterday, public information officer ASP Michael Pierre said that the jailbreak was being investigated by ASP Jerry De Leon.
Investigations are continuing.