Justin Skerritt Riley, who escaped prison custody in July, has been returned to Anguilla after spending more than a month detained in Guadeloupe.
The repatriation was carried out by the Royal Anguilla Police Force (RAPF), His Majesty’s Prison and the Immigration Department in collaboration with French authorities.
Upon arrival, Skerritt Riley from Stoney Ground underwent a medical examination before being taken back to His Majesty’s Prison in The Valley, a police press release said on 10 September.
At Anguilla Focus we keep our core content free for everyone – but our members get access to even more! Click here to join from just $3 per month.
It added: “The RAPF acknowledges the coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in ensuring his safe return and reaffirms its ongoing commitment to public safety and the rule of law.”
The 20-year-old escaped custody of prison guards on 29 July while being treated at the psychiatric ward of Princess Alexandra Hospital in The Quarter.
He was detained on 5 August in St Martin under an Interpol Red Notice, which alerted law enforcement agencies worldwide of his escape.
The escapee was later transferred to a prison in Guadeloupe where he remained in the custody of French authorities.
In August Governor Julia Crouch submitted a request to French authorities in Paris seeking his return to Anguilla to stand trial.
She also revealed in a press release on 13 August, that an independent investigation had been conducted into the circumstances of his escape from custody just weeks after he was arrested.
A senior member of His Majesty’s Prison Service in the UK identified a series of recommendations for urgent improvements to internal security procedures and practices at the prison.
Crouch said that given the detailed analysis of prison security measures she is “not able” to make the report public.
Skerritt Riley was arrested after being restrained by a member of the public following a shooting at a Rock Farm apartment complex on 15 July that left three people injured.
He was charged with 20 offences including two counts of attempted murder and held at His Majesty’s Prison in The Valley as he awaited trial.
Anyone with information on criminal activity in Anguilla can call police on 911, (264) 497-2333 or 497-5333, or leave an anonymous message, video or photo at secureaxa.com
Information from the website is stored in a secure location in California where access to it is tightly controlled.
