Manhunt on for escaped convicted murderer Adam Bowhay

A MANHUNT is under way for a convicted murderer, serving a 23-year sentence at Cooma, who escaped while on a work release program.

A MANHUNT is under way for a convicted murderer who has escaped while on a work release program.

Adam Bowhay, 34, was 18 when he killed a man he and his then 14-year-old girlfriend had met that night in the Oxford Hotel in Casino in the state's north.

Bowhay, who is serving a 23-year sentence at Cooma Correctional Centre, was with two other inmates at Snowy Oval in Cooma as part of a local work release program at about 1pm Tuesday when he absconded.

The first date he would have been eligible for release on parole would have been just weeks away - March 19 this year.

Police from Monaro Local Area Command have mounted a major search of the area and have urged the public not to approach Bowhay but to instead contact Triple Zero immediately.

At his trial, Bowhay had told the jury that he had no recollection of stabbing Steven Jarvis, a "helpless drunk'' but when he saw the blood, he lost control.

He told police: "I didn't know if he was dead or not proper - didn't know if I had killed him good enough, so I jumped on his chest, jumped on his head, kicked him in the ribs. I just schitzed right out.''

The trial judge said that Bowhay, who had previous convictions, had learned nothing from previous stints in jail.

"He appears to have embarked upon a life of crime and to have decided that society's rules do not apply to him,'' the judge said.

Bowhay is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 184cm tall, medium/large build, bald head and clean shaven. He has tattoos around his neck, upper arm and legs.

He was last seen wearing work gear which consists of a fluorescent yellow shirt and blue and green "King Gee'' brand long pants.