A Don Jail inmate who kicked another man to death for eating his potato chips was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.
CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney reported that Troy Campbell, 26, will have no chance of parole for 12 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Jeff Munro, 31.
Munro was an inmate in the psychiatric unit at the Don Jail, picked up for allegedly violating a probation order. He was killed in the jail on November 7, 2009.
Court heard that Munro stole and ate half a bag of potato chips that belonged to Campbell.
As retribution, Campbell stomped on Munro's head as witnesses looked on.
Many of the witnesses were too afraid to tell police details of what happened. The attack occurred in an area of the jail with no video cameras.
Campbell has a long history of violent criminal behaviour, the court heard. After he killed Munro, Campbell attacked a prison guard.
Campbell also spoke to the court, saying he was sorry for what happened.
"People have been killed in the Don Jail for years… it's a crazy place… I'm sorry for causing his death… he's in a better place than we are, in the afterlife," he said.
Campbell's defence lawyer, Tyler Smith, said blame for the crime could not be shifted onto the Don Jail.
"I don't think it's fair to blame the Don Jail for what happened, but it is a difficult place to be, a notorious prison, and it's very violent," said Smith.
Campbell has suffered from schizophrenia since he was a teen, the court heard, but there is no evidence that his mental state had anything to do with the murder.
With files from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney
