British suspect escapes from police custody

POLICE were yesterday in search of a 20-year-old Briton, who escaped custody in the morning after being remanded by Famagusta District Court in connection with a robbery and serious assault charges.

His compatriot, aged 23, also escaped but was later found in Paralimni and taken into custody.

“Famagusta CID is in search of Andre Terrif Walker, 20, from the United Kingdom, to assist investigations regarding a robbery and assault causing grievous bodily harm – crimes that were committed on August 4, 2010, in Ayia Napa – as well as his escape from legal arrest,” police said. “Anyone with information…should contact Famagusta CID or the nearest police station or the public hotline on 1460.”

The two suspects were arrested in the early hours of August 4, after attacking bouncers in an Ayia Napa nightclub, causing serious injuries to one of them.

The court yesterday ordered them to be remanded in the Central Prison until their case is due to he heard in court next Wednesday.

The pair were then led to Paralimni Court’s holding cells, where a little after noon they asked to go to the toilet. They managed to escape on the way, under circumstances that were yesterday being investigated. The 23-year-old was located after a tip-off, but Walker is still at large.

The Police Chief has ordered a disciplinary investigation into the two officers that were on duty, and in charge of the suspects at the time.

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