Allan Heyl
George Allan Heyl (died April 17, 2020) was a South African criminal, member of the Stander Gang.[1]
Heyl met his accomplices André Stander and Lee McCall in 1977, while they were in prison together (Heyl had been sentenced in 1977 for an earlier string of bank robberies);[1] Stander and McCall escaped from prison in August 1983, and broke Heyl out in October of that same year.[1]
The three then began a crime spree, which ended on January 30, 1984 when McCall was killed in a shoot-out with police. Stander, who had travelled to America, likewise died in a shoot-out with police there on February 13, 1984.[2]
Heyl had travelled to Britain, where he committed further robberies.[2] These led to his arrest and, in 1985, he was tried at Winchester Crown Court and sentenced to nine years in a British prison.[2]
At the end of his British sentence, he was extradited to South Africa, and re-imprisoned on charges pertaining to the Stander Gang robberies.[1] Heyl was serving a sentence of 25 years in Krugersdorp Prison.[3]
Post-prison activities and release[edit]
In the 2003 film Stander, Heyl is portrayed by David O'Hara. Heyl, who at the time was still in prison, supplied the filmmakers with much background detail on the gang's practices.[4]
Heyl was paroled in 2005,[5] and became a motivational speaker.[6]
He died on April 17, 2020.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Allan Heyl now free to speak to media – Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source
- ^ a b c Star
- ^ Malefane, Moipone (5 July 2004). "Last Stander gang member applies for parole". IOL. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ CNN.com – The police officer turned bank robber – Aug 11, 2004
- ^ "George Allan Heyl to be placed on parole". Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- ^ Allan Heyl
- ^ Last surviving member of notorious Stander Gang dies