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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pc killer captured after 13 years | Pc killer captured after 13 years |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man who killed an off-duty police officer and then escaped from prison has been recaptured in The Netherlands. | |
| James Hurley, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1989 after shooting an off-duty police officer during a bank robbery in Hertfordshire. | James Hurley, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1989 after shooting an off-duty police officer during a bank robbery in Hertfordshire. |
| Hurley, who has spent several years on Scotland Yard's wanted list, escaped when he was being moved to Wandsworth Prison by bus in 1994. | Hurley, who has spent several years on Scotland Yard's wanted list, escaped when he was being moved to Wandsworth Prison by bus in 1994. |
| He was detained by Dutch police who raided an address in The Hague. | He was detained by Dutch police who raided an address in The Hague. |
| They also found a quantity of class A drugs. | They also found a quantity of class A drugs. |
| 'Amphetamines found' | |
| Henriette de Wilde, police spokeswoman in The Hague, told BBC News: "We were sent to an address in the Hague where we expected to find a cannabis factory. Instead we found a large quantity of Class A drugs. | |
| "We arrested two British men at the address but they didn't give us their names so we had to confirm their identity using fingerprints and with the help of Interpol. | |
| "When we did we were 100% sure that one of the men was James Hurley." | |
| Ms de Wilde confirmed that the drugs in question were amphetamines. | |
| She said that the matter was now one for the district attorney in the Hague. Discussions had already begun with the British authorities on whether James Hurley would be sent back to the UK immediately or whether he would have to stand trial in the Netherlands on drugs charges, she added. | |
| Getaway driver | Getaway driver |
| Hurley was one of three men who staged an armed robbery on a security van outside a Barclays Bank in Hemel Hempstead in April 1988. | Hurley was one of three men who staged an armed robbery on a security van outside a Barclays Bank in Hemel Hempstead in April 1988. |
| Wharrie and McGhee, armed with guns, approached the security van guard as he went towards the bank. | Wharrie and McGhee, armed with guns, approached the security van guard as he went towards the bank. |
| Hurley was acting as the getaway driver and was parked nearby. | Hurley was acting as the getaway driver and was parked nearby. |
| Off-duty Hertfordshire Police Constable Frank Mason, 27, attempted to intervene in the robbery. | Off-duty Hertfordshire Police Constable Frank Mason, 27, attempted to intervene in the robbery. |
| As Pc Mason grabbed one of the suspects and tried to arrest him he was shot in the back by Hurley. He later died of his injuries. | As Pc Mason grabbed one of the suspects and tried to arrest him he was shot in the back by Hurley. He later died of his injuries. |
| It doesn't bring Francis back, but Hurley needs to serve time for the crime he committed Jill Mason | It doesn't bring Francis back, but Hurley needs to serve time for the crime he committed Jill Mason |
| Police have issued several appeals in recent years and believed Hurley might be hiding in Spain or the Republic of Ireland. | Police have issued several appeals in recent years and believed Hurley might be hiding in Spain or the Republic of Ireland. |
| Detective Chief Inspector Paul Maghie from Hertfordshire Constabulary's Crime Management Department commented: "The force still feels the loss of PC Francis Mason who selflessly gave his life intervening during this robbery. | Detective Chief Inspector Paul Maghie from Hertfordshire Constabulary's Crime Management Department commented: "The force still feels the loss of PC Francis Mason who selflessly gave his life intervening during this robbery. |
| "We have been ruthlessly pursuing Hurley for many years and would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to the Dutch police." | "We have been ruthlessly pursuing Hurley for many years and would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to the Dutch police." |
| Francis Mason's widow, Jill, added: "I am really pleased to hear the news that Hurley has been caught. | Francis Mason's widow, Jill, added: "I am really pleased to hear the news that Hurley has been caught. |
| "It doesn't bring Francis back, but Hurley needs to serve time for the crime he committed." | "It doesn't bring Francis back, but Hurley needs to serve time for the crime he committed." |