'Fake ID' convict re-captured

Pullum allegedly used a publicity photo from Dr Doolittle

The man accused of escaping prison using a picture of Eddie Murphy as a fake ID has been recaptured, police have said.

Officials said Kevin Jerome Pullum escaped from Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail on 6 July using an ID card with a publicity picture of the actor.

Pullum was convicted hours before his escape of shooting a man six times in 1999, and has two prior convictions.

Security footage allegedly showed Pullum wearing civilian clothing and a fake ID card

He was picked up by police in downtown Los Angeles after officers recognised him, according to the sheriff's department.

Moments earlier another man resembling Pullum was stopped just around the corner, but was released.

Pullum had allegedly been posing as a civilian, wearing a flowered shirt and light coloured trousers with the ID badge round his neck, when he made his escape.

The prison's security cameras recorded Pullum walking out of a lift and through the main control area of the prison.

An informant in the jail told the police about the modified identification card.

Access

It was said to have carried a photo of Murphy's character Dr Doolittle, which had been cut from a magazine advert.

Pullum had represented himself in court, thus giving him access to office supplies, newspapers and photocopiers, and was allowed to wear civilian clothing to court, police said.

At the time of the escape, sheriff's deputy Faye Bugarin told ABC radio: "He was reissued his jail clothing. His civilian clothing should have been collected at that time, but apparently it wasn't."

Pullum has yet to be sentenced for the attempted murder.