Alleged accomplice arrested in murderer's prison escape

A 59-year-old man from Rigaud has been arrested by police for allegedly acting as an accomplice in the escape of convicted murdered Robert Gaudette from a Laval prison.

According to the Quebec provincial police, Claude Hamelin was arrested Thursday night shortly before 6 p.m. inRigaud.

He appeared yesterday at the courthouse in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield andfaces a charge of accessory after the fact.

Hamelinis alleged to have provided assistance to Gaudette after his escape from theMonte Saint-Franois de Laval Institution.

Police say it is possible Gaudette is carrying a weapon.

Gaudette, 55, escaped fromprison on the night of July 28, and has an arrest warrantissued against him.

He had been serving a life sentence since 2002for the second degree murder of his wife.