Texas jailbreaker sentenced to death

George Rivas was already serving 18 life sentences

The man who led one of the biggest prison escapes in United States history has been sentenced to death for killing a policeman while on the run.

George Rivas was the first of the seven jailbreakers to be tried for shooting the police officer during a bungled robbery in Dallas, Texas, on Christmas Eve last year.

What you call the death penalty, I call freedom

George Rivas

Rivas, 31, had asked for the death penalty after being convicted last week of capital murder.

The breakout on 13 December from Connally Unit in Kennedy, south Texas, sparked a massive manhunt for the group, who remained at large for five weeks.

Armed and dangerous

The men were armed with 44 weapons, stolen clothing and $77,000 in cash and are alleged to have carried out three armed robberies while on the run.

The fugitives were tracked down to a trailer park in Colorado

In one raid, at a sports store in Dallas, the fugitives shot policeman Aubrey Hawkins 11 times before running over him in a getaway car.

The group hid out in a vehicle park in the town of Woodland Park, Colorado, and were eventually tracked down after being recognised from America's Most Wanted television programme.

Six of the escapees gave themselves up on 22 January this year, while a seventh committed suicide.

Maximum penalty

Rivas, who was serving 18 life sentences when he escaped, confessed to killing Mr Hawkins and asked for the maximum sentence.

"What you call the death penalty, I call freedom. I can finally be free. I'm telling you right now I don't want another life sentence," Rivas told the jury.

Rivas had said he had only meant to disarm Mr Hawkins, believing the policeman was reaching for his gun.

Dallas County prosecutors have said they will also seek the death penalty for the other convicts.