Captured killer still in hospital
A convicted killer accused of taking hostages and getting into a gun battle with police while he was on the run remained in an Edmonton hospital Monday.
William Bicknell, 42, was serving a sentence for second-degree murder in the 2001 fatal beating of Angela Steer, 37, when he escaped from a guard on March 10th while on a day pass from Drumheller Institution.
Bicknell was arrested near Sexsmith, Alta., on Saturday night.
Steer's father Allan Hood said he was happy when he learned Bicknell was caught by police.
"There was much elation in my place there," Hood said, adding he was glad no one was killed.
The circumstances around Bicknell's escape will be investigated by Correctional Service Canada.
"It will include the circumstances of the escape itself, his placement at the minimum security penitentiary he was at," said CSC spokesman Chris McLauchlan.
The prison guards' union wants the CSC to examine whether prisoners in minimum security institutions should actually be there.
The six-foot six-inch, 500-pound Bicknell is alleged to have taken three hostages in the time he was on the run, including an elderly woman who lives in a rural home near Sexsmith.
Police said Bicknell entered the house at 7:30 Saturday morning and held the woman hostage. She was able to escape and contact police and family members around 4 p.m.
When officers arrived, Bicknell jumped in a car he stole from another hostage earlier in the week, RCMP said.
After a three-kilometre chase, Bicknell jumped out of the car and started exchanging gunfire with officers, RCMP said.
He surrendered to police around 8:15 p.m. MT. He was taken to hospital for undisclosed injuries.
An RCMP officer received minor injuries. The exchange of gunfire is now under investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.
