Escaped prisoner worked outside the wire

Convicted murderer and double rapist Christopher Thomas Watkins, who went on the run from Tongariro Rangipo Prison for 10 hours last week, was working alone and unconfined when he escaped.

Department of Corrections regional manager Terry Buffery said Watkins, who is serving a life sentence for the 1988 murder of Mount Maunganui woman Janet Wardell, had been working as a groundsman "outside the wire" when he walked away from the prison on October 22.

He had been observed by staff every hour, Buffery said.

His escape is one of 12 from the low-security prison during the past five years, most of which were "walkaways" and "escapes while under escort".

Last financial year there were four escapes. In three of them prisoners breached security measures.

Sensible Sentencing Trust Tauranga co-ordinator Ken Evans said people had "every right to be fearful of the justice system".

"This man is a murderer. There is no excuse for being that lax with someone of that character. It's hard to fathom," Evans said.

Buffery said the prison was on a 8481.6ha site and it was not possible to surround the prison with a single perimeter fence.

"Prisoners with low-security classifications are accommodated at Tongariro Rangipo Prison and, as such, the level of physical security is lower than can be found at other prisons," he said.

An investigation was under way, including scrutiny of Watkins' recent behaviour in prison, previous recommendations by the New Zealand Parole Board, compliance by prison staff and the appropriateness of his work placement.

Watkins killed Wardell, a 26-year-old sickness beneficiary, with a knife in a sleepout at her family's Leander St home. She had been mentally and physically disabled after sustaining serious burns to more than half her body when she was 3.

- APN