A Jamaican national charged for the offence of murder in St. Lucia has escaped from police custody. Superintendent George Nicholas made the disclosure moments ago during a press conference at Chesterfield. Considered a “dangerous criminal”, members of the public with information about his whereabouts are asked to contact the nearest police station.
Nicholas stated: “Between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. this morning, October 12 2020, Orville Pernelle, a Jamaican national who was a prisoner housed at the Babonneau Police Station was reported to have escaped from lawful custody.
“Pernelle was charged on Thursday, October 8 2020 for causing the death of Cleutus Alfred of Ravine Macock. That incident occurred on August 25 this year at Trouya,” Nicholas said. The Superintendent revealed that Pernelle had a bail hearing on October 9, and was placed on remand until November 11.
Nicholas was questioned about the circumstances which led to Pernelle’s escape. “My information is the suspect was in a cell at Babonneau along with four other prisoners and he was able to saw the bars of the cell, and made his way out of the cell.”
Nicholas could not say what was used to saw the bars. “This escape is the subject of internal investigations and we have appointed a senior officer to carry out intensive investigations into this matter. So obviously I’ll not be able to go into the details but what I can tell you, is that the bars of the cell where the prisoner escaped from was sawed off,” he said.
The Superintendent advised the public: “He is considered to be a dangerous criminal and we’re appealing to members of the public with information to contact the nearest police station. As we speak also, we have officers on the ground pursuing the suspect.”
Nicholas also disclosed that no police officer was reported injured during the escape.
