KEY POINTS:
Convicted murderer John Frederick Ericson is now back in custody.
Ericson, 45, gave himself up when approached by a police officer near the Wellington ferry terminal around 1.30pm and was taken into custody without any resistance.
He has been arrested and will appear in Wellington District Court on
Monday on charges relating to his escape from Wellington Prison yesterday.
Ericson is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty in April 2000 to murdering his wife by striking her repeatedly in the back of the head with a tomahawk while she was asleep.
Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Miller, Wellington CIB, said police had three excellent confirmed sightings of Ericson called in over a three-hour period by members of the public late this morning.
The first was from staff at a cafe in Thorndon Quay who became suspicious of a man fitting Ericson's description and asked him to leave.
Then at midday more calls were received from the public about a man fitting Ericson's description in the rail yards. The third sighting put Ericson in the Kaiwharawhara terminal area off the old Hutt Road.
Police cordoned nearby streets and Ericson gave himself up when approached by an officer at one of the cordons.
He was still wearing the same clothes he had been wearing at the time of his escape from a Wellington Prison work detail some time between 11am and midday yesterday.
"We're still speaking with Ericson to see where he has been for the last 24 hours," Mr Miller said.
"The important message is that he's been caught, he gave himself up without any trouble, and Wellingtonians, especially those on the Miramar Peninsula, can now rest easier."
He thanked the public for their great response with reported sightings.
"Ericson has been caught as a result of public vigilance," Mr Miller said.
"That's helped our determination to get the investigation wrapped up quickly and without any one getting hurt."
Mr Miller said the police team still had some aspects of the investigation to complete - including finding where Ericson had been during the last 24 hours.
A massive hunt was launched when Ericson's escape was discovered yesterday and cordons were set up in the Miramar area.
Corrections Department acting Wellington regional manager Liz Neilsen said the department was extremely concerned at the security breach and had begun an internal review into the incident.
- NZPA
