George Hyatte and wife Jennifer Hyatte

    BEIJING, Aug. 11(Xinhuanet) -- An ex-prison nurse helped her shackled husband escape from a courthouse Tuesday in a daring shootout which caused the death of a guard.

    George Hyatte, 34, is just two years into a 35-year sentence for aggravated assault and robbery but was taken to the Roane County Courthouse in Kingston, East Tennessee, after striking a plea bargain for a previous armed robbery charge that added another six years to his term.

    As he was escorted from the building with other prisoners, his wife Jennifer Hyatte drove up in a sports utility vehicle. She started shooting at the two guards when she heard her husband shouting "Shoot 'em!".

    Mrs. Hyatte opened fire with at least six shots from a handgun. Three bullets struck guard Wayne "Cotton" Morgan, 56, who died at a hospital.

    Witness C.G. Gray said he and his wife were about 50 feet from the prisoner when they heard shots. He said Morgan, who was not wearing a protective vest, never got his gun out of his holster.

    "It was just a 'Bonnie and Clyde' style shootout," said Mark Gywn, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. "These people are very desperate and don't have anything to lose at this point."

    Jennifer Hyatte, 31, was once a nurse under contract to the Tennessee Department of Corrections in Tiptonville. She was sacked from her job two years ago after striking up a relationship with George Hyatte, whom she later married.

    Jim Washam, the local police chief, said that murder charges were being prepared against the couple, who might be hiding out with relatives. Enditem

    (Agencies)