scaling the 14-foot perimeter wall with a wooden plank.

Prison chiefs now believe the 28-year-old stumbled across the piece of wood.

"It was an opportunist escape, and not one which was planned,'' revealed Prison Commissioner Mr. Edward Dyer yesterday.

At least three prison officers were disciplined following the dramatic breakout. This included being demoted.

But the officers are still in the prison service, said Mr. Dyer.

Shorter was jailed for life for shooting to death store boss Mr. Roger Redman.

He escaped while on a recreational break, and is understood to have caught a bus.

Police finally recaptured him after six months at his mother's home in Euclid Avenue, Pembroke. They had received a tip-off.

Shorter was never charged over his breakout. Nor was his mother for allegedly harbouring a criminal.

After the escape, security at Bermuda's maximum security prison was tightened.

"We obviously make sure there are no planks of wood, or similar items lying about,'' said Mr. Dyer.

But he was reluctant to highlight any other measures.

The wall around the new prison will be a minimum of 14 feet, and in one section there will be an 80-foot drop, said Mr. Dyer. But "certain devices'' would be in place to thwart prisoners scaling the wall.