This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8072519.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Murderer on the run from prison | Murderer on the run from prison |
(10 minutes later) | |
A murderer who was jailed more than 30 years ago has gone on the run from a controversial open prison in Tayside. | |
John Brown, who was sentenced to life in 1976, failed to return to Castle Huntly, near Dundee, after being allowed out on home leave. | |
The 57-year-old was due back at the jail on Wednesday. | The 57-year-old was due back at the jail on Wednesday. |
The issue of criminals absconding from Castle Huntly has caused controversy, following a number of recent high-profile cases. | |
On Wednesday, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill described the case of a serious offender who went on the run from the open jail last week as unacceptable. | |
Police appeal | |
Brian Martin, known as "The Hawk", who was serving a 10-year sentence for a firearms offence, absconded from Castle Huntly before later handing himself in. | |
Mr MacAskill said Martin should not have been transferred there from closed prison conditions and has ordered an independent review of the case. | |
Brown was transferred to Castle Huntly in February from Shotts jail, 33 years to the day he was convicted. | |
He was described as about 5ft 5in tall, with short, brown hair and green eyes. | |
He is known to have family and friends in Glasgow - and anyone who knows where he is has been urged to contact police. | |
The Scottish Government ordered a tightening of the rules on open prisons in the wake of the Robert Foye case, last year. | |
Foye raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Cumbernauld after absconding while serving a sentence for attempting to murder a police officer. | Foye raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Cumbernauld after absconding while serving a sentence for attempting to murder a police officer. |