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Killer sentenced for jail murder | Killer sentenced for jail murder |
(40 minutes later) | |
A man who admitted murdering a fellow inmate in a "horrific" jail attack has been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in prison. | |
David Martin was captured on CCTV in June 2007 as he kicked and stamped on Michael Cameron at Kilmarnock Prison. | |
Serco, which runs the private jail, has defended its procedures. | |
The sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh also covered Martin's killing of Gilbert Grierson, his mother's former boyfriend, in March 2006. | The sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh also covered Martin's killing of Gilbert Grierson, his mother's former boyfriend, in March 2006. |
Martin was sentenced to life for the murder of Mr Cameron and was told he would have to serve 24 years before he could apply for parole. | |
That sentence also encompasses his period of punishment for killing Mr Grierson. | |
The 20-year-old had previously admitted culpable homicide by killing Mr Grierson, 46, with knives, scissors, a frying pan and a bottle and setting his home in Irvine on fire. | |
His attack on Mr Cameron happened three months after Martin was remanded for killing Mr Grierson. | |
The attack happened in the prison's healthcare wing | The attack happened in the prison's healthcare wing |
The incident, in Kilmarnock Prison's health wing, also saw Martin pour boiling water over his victim. | |
A prison officer witnessed the murder but did not intervene until re-enforcements arrived. | A prison officer witnessed the murder but did not intervene until re-enforcements arrived. |
Under prison protocol a total of three custody officers should restrain any one prisoner. | Under prison protocol a total of three custody officers should restrain any one prisoner. |
Martin's lawyer, Bill McVicar, described his client as a damaged individual who had a life of breathtaking deprivation. | |
But the judge, Lord Matthews, said Martin's background was not an excuse for his actions. | |
"You are no stranger to violence and it will be difficult to forget the CCTV images showing what you did to Mr Cameron," he said. | |
"I do not know what kind of warped morality made you think it was appropriate to act in that manner. | |
"No doubt questions will be asked and I know they are already being asked about the fact that this happened in prison while staff were watching." | |
'Tragic occurrence' | |
Serco spokesman Michael Clarke said: "There were four prisoners in the healthcare unit in a ward and there was one prison officer and one nurse in the immediate area when this horrific attack erupted. | Serco spokesman Michael Clarke said: "There were four prisoners in the healthcare unit in a ward and there was one prison officer and one nurse in the immediate area when this horrific attack erupted. |
"He quite rightly called for re-enforcements before entering the ward to stop the incident and within a couple of minutes extra staff had arrived." | "He quite rightly called for re-enforcements before entering the ward to stop the incident and within a couple of minutes extra staff had arrived." |
Figures released last month by the Scottish Government showed a total of 225 prisoners had been assaulted at HMP Kilmarnock in the past seven years. | Figures released last month by the Scottish Government showed a total of 225 prisoners had been assaulted at HMP Kilmarnock in the past seven years. |
Last year, 49 assaults took place - a record number. | Last year, 49 assaults took place - a record number. |
However, Mr Clarke said the Serco employees "did the right thing" and claimed that staffing levels at the prison were adequate. | However, Mr Clarke said the Serco employees "did the right thing" and claimed that staffing levels at the prison were adequate. |
"It was a tragic occurrence, a horrific attack and we need to make sure that we do everything to prevent it happening again," he added. | "It was a tragic occurrence, a horrific attack and we need to make sure that we do everything to prevent it happening again," he added. |