Murder convict among two escapees from Lusignan Prison

Shazam Khalil
Shazam Khalil

A murder convict is one of two prisoners who have escaped from the Lusignan Prison.

Efforts are now underway to capture Shazam Khalil, also known as ‘Boi,’ 28 of Lot 53 Shields-town, West Bank Berbice, who was admitted to prison on August 19th, 2016 and is supposed to be serving a life sentence with parole after 24-years, and Andrew Chang, 26, of Lot 73 New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Deme-rara, who was admitted to prison on April 20th, 2021 for a break and enter and larceny offence.

In a statement, the Director of Prisons (ag) Nicklon Elliot stated that the men were discovered missing from the Lusignan Prison’s Quarantine Sec-tion at about 7.30 am yesterday.

Andrew Chang

The statement explained that the Quarantine section was supervised by the Duty Officer and four other ranks, who observed that two prisoners were unaccounted for during the checking of the tally.

The matter was immediately reported to the Officer-in-Charge of Lusignan Prison, David Shepherd, Superintendent of Prisons (ag), who immediately ordered a roll call in order to confirm the information.

Once there was confirmation, the Emergency Action Plan with respect to the escaping of inmates was immediately activated, the Director of Prisons (ag) was informed and subsequently informed the Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn and the Joint Services Heads.

Khalil, who previously worked as a cane harvester, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow for the murder of Sheniza Mohamed, his teenage ex-girlfriend, at Rosignol, West Coast Berbice in January 2015.

There have been frequent escapes from the Lusignan Prison.