Allan Heyl
Encyclopedia
George Allan Heyl is the last surviving member of the Stander Gang
of South Africa
n bank robbers.
Heyl met his accomplices Andre 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); Stander and McCall escaped from prison in August 1983, and broke Heyl out in October of that same year.
The three then began a crime spree, which ended in late January 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 in mid-February 1984.
Heyl, who had traveled to the Greek island of Hydra
shortly before McCall's fatal encounter with police, then travelled to England
, where he committed further robberies. These led to his arrest and, in 1985, he was tried at Winchester Crown Court
and sentenced to nine years in a British prison.
At the end of his British sentence, he was extradited to South Africa, and re-imprisoned on charges pertaining to the Stander Gang robberies.
, 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.
Heyl was paroled in 2005, and has since become a motivational speaker
.
Andre Stander
Andre Stander was a Police Captain at the CID branch of Kempton Park Police Station, South Africa who began robbing banks in the 1970s and later became known in popular media as the head of the "Stander Gang" in the early 1980s...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n bank robbers.
Heyl met his accomplices Andre Stander and Lee McCall
Lee McCall
Lee McCall was a member of the Stander Gang, a group of three escaped convicts who went on a bank robbing spree in South Africa from October 1983 until February 1984. The group was named for Andre Stander, who gained fame for having been a Captain of Detectives in the Johannesburg Police when he...
in 1977, while they were in prison together (Heyl had been sentenced in 1977 for an earlier string of bank robberies); Stander and McCall escaped from prison in August 1983, and broke Heyl out in October of that same year.
The three then began a crime spree, which ended in late January 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 in mid-February 1984.
Heyl, who had traveled to the Greek island of Hydra
Hydra, Saronic Islands
Hydra is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf. It is separated from the Peloponnese by narrow strip of water...
shortly before McCall's fatal encounter with police, then travelled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he committed further robberies. These led to his arrest and, in 1985, he was tried at Winchester Crown Court
Winchester Crown Court
Winchester Crown Court is a law court in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It is owned and operated by HMCS. The most high profile case to be heard there was the Rose West murder trial in 1995....
and sentenced to nine years in a British prison.
At the end of his British sentence, he was extradited to South Africa, and re-imprisoned on charges pertaining to the Stander Gang robberies.
Post-prison activities and release
In the 2003 film StanderStander (film)
Stander is a 2003 biographical film about Captain André Stander, a South African police officer who turned into a bank robber, starring Thomas Jane.-Reception:...
, Heyl is portrayed by David O'Hara
David O'Hara
David O'Hara is a Scottish actor.-Life and career:O'Hara was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Martha and Patrick O'Hara, a construction worker....
. Heyl, who at the time was still in prison, supplied the filmmakers with much background detail on the gang's practices.
Heyl was paroled in 2005, and has since become a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
.