Man accused of escaping from jail congratulated the police officer who apprehended him, court hears
Detective says he grabbed 23-year-old Daniel Khalife as he cycled on canal towpath in west London
A former soldier “congratulated” the police officer who captured him three days after he was accused of escaping from prison, a jury has heard.
Woolwich crown court on Friday heard evidence from the Metropolitan police officer, who said he grabbed hold of Daniel Khalife on a canal towpath in west London.
The plainclothes detective sergeant, who was not named in court, said he jumped out of his car and ran down an alleyway to the canal.
“It was quite a fast-moving situation. I could see Khalife coming towards me on the footpath riding his bike with clothing matching the description. I was sure it was Daniel Khalife, I told him he was under arrest. I ran down the stairs, I pulled my Taser out,” he told the jury.
Khalife “flinched” when he saw the device, but did not “have a chance to stop” because of the speed he was moving at, the court heard. “I grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him off of the bike on to the floor.”
The 23-year-old is alleged to have escaped from HMP Wandsworth in south London while on remand by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery lorry on 6 September 2023. He was arrested in west London on 9 September carrying several items, including a Waitrose bag containing a phone, receipts, a diary and about £200 in notes, the jury was told.
Jurors were shown an image of Khalife after the arrest, which showed him sitting on the ground wearing a white T-shirt, blue shorts and red socks with no shoes on.
The Met police officer who apprehended the alleged fugitive said he had driven in the direction of where Khalife had been spotted to try to get ahead of him. Once he caught up with the former soldier, the officer said he “did comply”, and was handcuffed. The officer was then joined by colleagues, who sat up Khalife and formally arrested him.
Asked about Khalife’s demeanour, the officer said: “He was friendly towards me. Quite jovial. At no point did he try to resist. He was pleasant. He congratulated me on catching him.”
Asked by the defence barrister, Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, if he had told Khalife: “Stop, or I’ll shoot,” the officer replied: “No.” Asked if Khalife had stopped and come over to the officer voluntarily, before saying: “You’ve got me,” the detective sergeant laughed and replied: “Complete and utter rubbish.”
The prosecutor, Mark Heywood KC, previously told the jury Khalife “quite deliberately escaped” after being escorted to the kitchen where he had a job.
On 6 September, Khalife had been to Richmond, in south-west London, and went to Mountain Warehouse, a clothing store. The next day, he was pictured in an M&S and Sainsbury’s, the court heard. On the day of the arrest, the former soldier was seen in a McDonald’s, his trial was told.
His absence was discovered during a headcount and then all movement in the prison was suspended, the jury was told.
Khalife also faces charges contrary to the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act, and is accused of perpetrating a bomb hoax. He denies all of the charges.
The trial continues.
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