Down-the-wall escaper makes brief court appearance

Handcuffed prison escaper Aaron Forden briefly appeared in court today after a dramatic escape from Mt Eden Prison on Monday.

Forden, 26, was recaptured yesterday in an equally dramatic car chase which ended with several cars badly damaged.

Today in court he wore blue police overalls and had his hands handcuffed behind his back when he appeared on escaping and dangerous driving charges.

On some of the charges relating to the escape he is due to appear in Auckland District Court next week, and on burglary and aggravated wounding charges for which he was on remand in Mt Eden Prison, he is due to appear in Manukau District Court early in June.

Forden allegedly used sheets to climb over barbed wire and down the outside wall at Mt Eden Prison early on Monday morning

Yesterday he was spotted by members of the public at a south Auckland shopping mall. Rebel Sports staff at the Botany Downs mall called police and after a chase, Forden was recaptured in nearby Papatoetoe.

- NZPA