Escaped prisoner enters third day on run

A prisoner who smashed his way to freedom at Wellington District Court was into his third day on the run today.

Daniel Minogue, 23, of Taupo, who was serving time for burglary and theft offences when he escaped on Monday morning, was thought to have fled to the Taupo-Rotorua area, possibly in a stolen vehicle.

Two fellow inmates who escaped with Minogue were caught by police in the Wellington suburb of Khandallah after a tip-off later on Monday.

Sonny Pritchard, 29, of Auckland, and Lance Roy Seymore Ludwig, 31, of Wellington, were yesterday remanded in custody without plea on escape charges, to reappear in Wellington District Court on April 27.

A warrant was issued for Minogue's arrest.

The three men were being held in basement court cells because of a bed shortage at Rimutaka Prison, and were thought to have escaped when Corrections Department officers were distracted by a fight, allowing the men to kick the lock out of a secure door.

- NZPA