Escape helper charged

A 29-year-old woman was in custody yesterday charged with helping prisoner Arthur Taylor make a short-lived escape a week ago.

She was arrested in Northland and appeared in the Whangarei District Court on Monday charged with assisting the escape in central Wellington.

The woman, who has interim name suppression, was to appear in the Wellington District Court today, a police spokeswoman said.

Wellington CIB head Detective Inspector Gary Knowles said the woman was arrested after receiving treatment for a minor road crash.

Police throughout the North Island were yesterday still looking for Manu Royal, 45, for his alleged role in the escape last Tuesday.

Taylor is to appear in the Wellington District Court tomorrow.

- NZPA