PRISON escapee Stafrie Hopkinson Alexander who is on trial for escaping lawful custody at the Mackenzie Police Station on Monday testified that ranks of the said station facilitated his escape.
He made the disclosure when he appeared in the Linden Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Alexander testified that he allegedly paid Assistant Superintendent Chabinaught Singh, who was inspector at the time and stationed at the Mackenzie Police Station and manning the Criminal Investigation Department, a large sum of cash to facilitate the escape.
According to the convict, Lance Corporal Jason Bourne allegedly broke the wall through which he and Robin Maxwell escaped.
The two murder accused on December of 2015 escaped from the Mackenzie Police Station lockups via a hole in the wall after which they scaled the fence. While Alexander was later recaptured at a checkpoint at the Kurupukari crossing, Rupununi, Maxwell’s corpse weeks after was fished out of the Demerara River in the vicinity of West Watooka. The post-mortem revealed that he had sustained blunt trauma to the head and his skull was fractured. It was alleged that Alexander may have been responsible for Maxwell’s death.
They were both on trial for the murder of Linden businesswoman Shevon Gordon, which occurred at Wismar on April 4, 2015.
When the Guyana Chronicle contacted ASP Singh on the allegation, he vehemently denied it and said it was news to him.
“I don’t have any idea about that… and that is not the case, I won’t allow any thief man to get way from anywhere… I wouldn’t allow him to get away from anywhere,” Singh said.
Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus, who was E’ Division Commander at the time of the escape, said he wished not to comment on the matter.
Acting Commander of ‘E’ Division, Anthony Vanderhydren, said he is aware of the testimony but an investigation has not yet been launched since he has not seen the file as yet.
“I know that it was mentioned in court and I haven’t seen the file as yet, until I see the file then I will make a statement,” Vanderhydren said.
He added that Alexander will be attending court for the remainder of the week, since police are trying to push out his cases and when it concludes, he will access the file.
Alexander was one of several prisoners who also escaped from the Camp Street Prison in July, but was later recaptured on July 29 in Corentyne, Berbic