Woods and his accomplices, who included an Australian diplomat, the then-editor of the Rand Daily Mail, Allister Sparks, and a former security police officer, decided to plan the great escape for New Year's eve, as the security police would have lowered their guard, and the number of police on duty would also be less.
UWoods nalabo ababemsiza ukufezekisa lelicebo, okwakuhlanganisa umhloniswa wase Australia, owayenguMhleli wephephandaba i-Rand Daily Mail, uAllister Sparks kanye nowayeyiphoyisa bavumelana ukuthi usuku oluhle lokweqa ubusuku obandulela unyaka omusha ngoba amaphoyisa asuke engemaningi futhi enganakile kakhulu umsebenzi.