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Murder suspect mistakenly freed Murder suspect mistakenly freed
(about 6 hours later)
A man from Essex charged with murder has been mistakenly freed from prison.A man from Essex charged with murder has been mistakenly freed from prison.
Jason Bethell, 31, of Broadway, Jaywick, is accused of murdering John Smith, 58, also of Jaywick, who was stabbed in July. He died in September.Jason Bethell, 31, of Broadway, Jaywick, is accused of murdering John Smith, 58, also of Jaywick, who was stabbed in July. He died in September.
On 9 November Mr Bethell was remanded in custody to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on 1 February 2010. On 9 November Mr Bethell was remanded in custody to appear in on 1 February 2010, but seven days later, he was released from Chelmsford Prison.
But seven days later, he was released from Chelmsford Prison. Police are now trying to find him, while a Prison Service investigation is taking place. On Tuesday evening he handed himself in at Clacton police station and will be returned to prison to await trial.
Bulldog tattoo
Mr Smith received stab wounds in Jaywick on 11 July. He died in hospital on 18 September.
Det Supt John Quinton said: "Mr Bethell should be in prison awaiting trial and we want to get him back in custody as quickly as possible.
"If anyone knows where he is, they should let us know immediately."
The Prison Service has developed robust procedures to deal with such situations Prison Service spokesperson
Mr Bethell is described as white and thin with shaven dark brown hair.
He has tattoos of a bulldog on his upper right arm and the word "Harley" on his right forearm.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: "An internal investigation into this release is under way.A Prison Service spokesperson said: "An internal investigation into this release is under way.
"The police were informed as soon as we became aware of the error and we are working with them to return this individual to custody as quickly as possible."The police were informed as soon as we became aware of the error and we are working with them to return this individual to custody as quickly as possible.
"Ministers and the Prison Service take this sort of incident very seriously. "Ministers and the Prison Service take this sort of incident very seriously."
"The Prison Service has developed robust procedures to deal with such situations." The spokesman did not say how the incident occurred, but claimed: "The Prison Service has developed robust procedures to deal with such situations."
Mr Smith received stab wounds in Jaywick on 11 July. He died in hospital on 18 September.