It is apparently common for prisoners to tunnel their way out and escapes are hard to prevent despite the presence of guards with Machineguns in watchtowers.
The Herald's interpreter in Macapa, Francisco Franca, said police prosecutors were now trying to have Colares Tavares moved from the medium security Amapa State Prison in Macapa, home to around 700 drug dealers, murderers, petty thieves and rapists, to a maximum security prison in the country's capital, Brasilia.
"The prosecutors have tried to transfer him to Brasilia because it has a maximum security prison.
"As it is an international case they think it will be much safer to transfer him to Brasilia."
The pirates stormed Sir Peter's boat, Seamaster, when it was moored near Macapa waiting to leave the Amazon in December. Colares Tavares fired the fatal shots into the captain's back.
None of the other members of his band was involved in the attempted escape, said Mr Franca.
The incident may contribute to delays in the sentencing of Colares Tavares, who has admitted killing Sir Peter, and the rest of the group, who are all charged with armed robbery, resulting in death. They face up to 20 years behind bars.
Colares Tavares' lawyers have been trying to arrange psychiatric tests to see whether he was mentally competent at the time of the slaying.
However, five psychiatrists asked to examine him have all refused, alleging "personal reasons," said Mr Franca.
He said a sentence was likely to be handed down within weeks of the tests being completed.
Peter Blake, 1948-2001
