When Earl Pratt arrived at Fellowship Spiritual Apostolic Church yesterday morning, with daughter and grandchildren in tow, crowds swelled into Big Lane to get a glimpse of the man who escaped the hangman's noose.

Just over one week since leaving prison, Pratt has morphed from notorious ex-con into a celebrity of sorts.

But despite the Hollywood-like fanfare, Pratt preferred penitence to popularity, as midway the service, he rose to give a 'testimony'. He described himself as once a 'window' member of the church and exhorted young people to steer clear of a life of crime, and to use his experience as an example.

"I just want to say to these young people that prison is not a bed a rose ... Me lose 30 years, me no want unnu lose fi unnu 30 to."

Ivan Morgan Jr. was present and described Pratt as a second father.

Pratt and Morgan Sr. were both convicted for the 1977 murder of Everton Junior Missick, but their death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment after the landmark 1994 ruling by the United Kingdom Privy Council.

Ivan Morgan Sr. later died while doing time, but Pratt was released on parole on May 18 after 30 years in the slammer.

Pratt said yesterday he was elated to be back in his community, and said the church helped to ease any tension that might have been there.

"I feel better than how me feel before, because to how the system set, itset as if me couldn't did really enter me community because it was the place that the crime took place, but me a tell you the people really welcome me."