Escaped convict faces new charges

Gary Gormley, the escaped convict who gave himself up to police in Stratford, P.E.I. Monday, faced new charges Tuesday.

'Apparently I'm not too bright.' — Gary Gormley

Gormley, serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, escaped from the minimum security Westmorland prison in New Brunswick Sept. 6. In addition to being at large, Gormley was charged Tuesday with one count of break, enter and theft from a residence in Victoria, P.E.I.,as well as one count of motor vehicle theft, said Cpl. Kent MacKay.

Gormley had little to say Tuesday as he was escorted out of a Charlottetown courtroom.

"Apparently I'm not too bright," he replied when asked why he chose to return home.

Police had thoughtGormleymight come home to P.E.I. and had received numerous tips to that effect. The search ended when Gormley called the RCMP from a phone outside the detachment in Stratford and asked to be picked up.

Gormley was jailed for the beating and strangling death of Clifford McIver in 1995. He was eligible for parole in March of this year, but waived his right to a hearing saying he was not ready for release.