The three prisoners on the run (from left to right): Zane Hepi, 24, Billy Fepulea’i, 43, and 45-year-old Joseph Ng Wun. Photos / NZ Police
The three prisoners on the run (from left to right): Zane Hepi, 24, Billy Fepulea’i, 43, and 45-year-old Joseph Ng Wun. Photos / NZ Police
Police have named the three inmates who escaped from a prison van on an Auckland motorway yesterday.
They are Zane Hepi, 24, Billy Fepulea’i, 43, and 45-year-old Joseph Ng Wun.
Zane Hepi. Photo / NZ Police
The trio fled on foot from a transport van on the South-Eastern highway yesterday afternoon at 2.40pm, before stealing avehicle from a member of the public.
They were being transported to Mt Eden Corrections Facility.
“Police are appealing to the public as work continues to locate three remand prisoners who escaped custody in Auckland,” said Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Armstrong this morning.
“Inquiries have been ongoing to locate the trio, by a dedicated team of officers, and we are today appealing to the public for information to help us.”
Joseph Ng Wun. Photo / NZ Police
The men have connections across Counties Manukau and Auckland City, police said.
Fepulea’i was in court last year over an assault on a police officer that was filmed and later shared on social media.
The incident happened on January 28 on Tāmaki Drive near Mission Bay and left the officer injured.
Fepulea’i was later charged with assault of police, resisting police, possession for supply of methamphetamine, injuring with intent to injure, escaping police custody, possession of utensils for consuming methamphetamine, theft under $500 and procuring methamphetamine.
Some of the charges related to past incidents.
A motorist who saw Friday’s escape unfold spoke to the Herald this morning.
“I saw three people run across the on-ramp a few cars ahead of me,” said the man, who did not want to be named.
“I was fully paralysed and I didn’t know what to do.”
Based on police photos released today, the man was believed to have been Zane Hepi.
The woman said the man hadn’t managed to close the door of their car before they swerved into the truck lane to the left and sped off as fast as they could, causing the man to fall out onto the road.
“He couldn’t get the door shut and couldn’t get his legs in at that speed so just fell out,” she said.
“We didn’t know what to do so we just kept driving.
The van at the scene after the escape. Photo / Supplied
Three inmates who escaped from a prison van were being taken to Mt Eden Corrections Facility. Photo / NZ Herald
Superintendent Shanan Gray also appealed for anyone who witnessed the escape to contact police as soon as possible using the 105 phone service.
“This is an ongoing incident and further updates will be provided once they become available,” he said.
A Corrections spokesperson said police were informed immediately.
