The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

FORMER fugitive and murder accused D’Angelo Culmer told a magistrate he was getting closer to God and staying out of sight before he was sentenced to two years in prison on Friday for escaping from the Magistrate’s Court Complex last October.

Culmer, 36, appeared jovial during his arraignment before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville, even as his escape had triggered an eight-month manhunt, internal police investigations and tribunal proceedings against officers responsible for his custody.

When asked by Magistrate Serville why he missed a February 19 court date before the chief magistrate, Culmer said he was “getting closer to god” and that he was “staying out of sight, out of mind, so they wouldn’t say I is a public threat.”

Magistrate Serville told him that was of considerable concern at this stage.

Culmer pleaded guilty to escape from lawful custody after fleeing the South Street court complex while in custody around 3.30pm on October 2, 2025.

When asked why he fled, Culmer said it did not sit right with him to remain in prison for murder and two attempted murder charges he claimed he was innocent of.

While on the run, he claimed he had not seen his four children and was barely surviving.

Culmer asked the magistrate for mercy and claimed he was being railroaded over his pending murder charges.

He said he would rather be put to death than sit in prison for nothing.

Culmer also claimed the person arrested with him on Thursday was only giving him a ride that night. He said a Ms Pratt had nothing to do with it.

Magistrate Serville noted that significant government resources were expended trying to find him.

Culmer was sentenced to two years in prison for the escape. He has seven days to appeal the sentence.

Police said officers from the Internal Security Division, also known as SWAT, arrested Culmer and a 44-year-old man shortly before midday last Thursday after intercepting a grey Nissan Note at the corner of Tonique Williams-Darling Highway and Premiers Avenue.

A search of the vehicle and its two occupants allegedly uncovered one pound and eight ounces of suspected marijuana in a black backpack, valued by police at $3,200.

Both men were arrested and cautioned over the alleged drug find. Police said the 44-year-old man was also cautioned in connection with harbouring a fugitive.

Culmer’s escape raised serious questions about security at the court complex. Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles confirmed in November that three police officers were under investigation in connection with the breach and said security protocols had been strengthened to prevent another escape.

By January, Commissioner Knowles said the three officers had been brought before a police tribunal over Culmer’s escape. One officer had been interdicted, and another was expected to face interdiction as the tribunal process progressed. The status of those disciplinary proceedings is unclear.

Culmer was arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court on February 16, 2024, on one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder after prosecutors accused him of opening fire from a vehicle at a group of people on January 31, 2024.

A 39-year-old woman was killed in the shooting on Ragged Island Street. Carla Bain and Lorenzo Sands were also injured.

Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted the escape case.