A judge is considering how to sentence a man who kicked another Don Jail inmate to death for eating his potato chips.

Troy Campbell, 26, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Jeff Munro, 31.

A court heard arguments at Campbell's sentencing hearing Thursday.

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.

Munro stole and ate half a bag of potato chips that belonged to Campbell, the court heard.

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 another prison guard.

Munro's family remembered their son and brother as a free spirit, a good friend who loved to dance and whose life had taken a wrong turn after he faced issues of addiction and mental illness.

"Jeff was an unsuspecting victim of a brutal act, carried out with callous intent," Munro's mother, Christine Munro, told the court.

Munro's sister, Melanie, said she would always have to live with the horrible crime.

"I have to live knowing that Jeff died alone in his cell while I was at home, sleeping soundly in my bed," she told the court.

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.

The sentence for the crime is automatically life in jail, but the judge must decide when Campbell will be eligible for parole.

The defence is asking for the minimum of 10 years, while the Crown is asking for at least 13 years before Campbell is eligible for parole.

Justice John McMahon will make a decision.

With files from CTV News' Tamara Cherry