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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Killer sentenced for jail murder | Killer sentenced for jail murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man who murdered a fellow inmate in a "horrific" prison attack has been sentenced to at least 24 years in jail. | |
| David Martin was captured on CCTV in June 2007 as he kicked and stamped on Michael Cameron at Kilmarnock Prison. | David Martin was captured on CCTV in June 2007 as he kicked and stamped on Michael Cameron at Kilmarnock Prison. |
| The judge said questions would be asked about why prison staff had failed to intervene, but Serco - which runs the private jail - defended its procedures. | |
| The sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh also covered Martin's killing of Gilbert Grierson in March 2006. | |
| Martin was sentenced to life after admitting murdering Mr Cameron and was told he would have to serve a minimum of 24 years before he could apply for parole. | |
| That sentence also encompasses his period of punishment for killing Mr Grierson. | 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. | 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, who was his mother's former boyfriend. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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' | '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. |