Murderer’s vile attack on jail staff
A CONVICTED murderer serving a life sentence has appeared in court again... this time for ‘potting’ two prison officers.
Vincent O’Kane, 46, threw a bucket of urine and faeces over a landing at Strangeways prison, with the contents falling onto the head of one female officer and splashing onto her male colleague.
Manchester Crown Court was told that O’Kane planned the attack after feeling ‘frustrated’ and ‘aggrieved’ following a conversation with the female officer about ‘another prisoner’s privileges.’ He was sentenced to life in prison in October for the ‘merciless’ killing of 55-year-old Philip Edge, a friend with whom he lived.
Drug addict O’Kane flew into a violent drug and drink fuelled rage at their Eccles home, and battered Mr Edge to death. O’Kane tried to cover up his crimes, lying to paramedics and suggesting that Mr Edge had died as a result of natural causes.
Mr Edge, described as ‘vulnerable,’ is said to have been found O’Kane ‘intimidating,’ and an argument over O’Kane living at his flat could have been the trigger for the brutal murder.
A sentencing hearing heard that O’Kane was on remand at Strangeways awaiting his murder trial when the ‘potting’ happened on May 28 last year.
He collected a bucket of human waste and poured it from an upper landing, aiming it for where the officer was standing below. She felt liquid on her and immediately understood what was happening, prosecutor Justin Hayhoe said.
The smell was ‘putrid,’ she said, but she managed to wipe it away so it didn’t get into her eyes or mouth.
Some of the material also splashed onto her male colleague, who was standing nearby.
In a victim impact statement, the female officer said: “It’s disgusting what was done. Animals don’t do that to each other.”
Both officers had to undergo tests to check whether they had caught any diseases as a result.
In statements provided to the court, both officers said they were still awaiting test results. The court did not have the most recent information, but it’s thought neither suffered any long term health problems.
Defending, Stuart Duke said: “It seems the defendant was feeling frustrated and aggrieved at the time, but to react in the way he reacted is disgusting. He ought to be thoroughly ashamed of himself.”
Sentencing, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC explained it was not within her power to make any sentence consecutive to his outstanding life term, of which he must serve a minimum of 15 years before the Parole Board consider whether he can be released.
“Please don’t think you are simply getting away with this,” the judge said.
“Any such behaviour will undoubtedly be taken into account by the Parole Board.”
The judge sentenced O’Kane to 12 months in prison, which will run concurrently to his life sentence.
O’Kane, previously of Florence Street, Eccles, pleaded guilty to two counts of administering a poison or noxious substance with intent.