A concert killer who knifed a chef as he left a classical music show has been given another jail term for stabbing a prison guard with metal crafted from a DVD player.
Unemployed Karl Wills was serving a life sentence at the top security HMP Frankland after being found guilty of murdering Reynald Duchene in Southend, Essex, over a decade ago.
Mr Duchene, 37, was stabbed as he tried to protect his fiancé after Wills and another man pestered her and two friends as they left Priory Park after an outdoor performance by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra in June 2010.
Wills, then 22, who claimed he carried the knife for protection, denied murder but it took a jury less than half a day to convict him at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Wills was sentenced to life behind bars with a minimum term of 23 years and was transferred to Frankland in County Durham.
But the brute found himself back before the courts again on Thursday for an unprovoked attack on two prison guards.
Durham Crown Court heard the first worker was unlocking cell doors shortly before 5pm when he came across Wills before the confrontation last January.
Unemployed Karl Wills was serving a life sentence at the top security HMP Frankland after being found guilty of murdering Reynald Duchene in Southend, Essex, over a decade ago
French chef Reynald Duchene, 37, of South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, was murdered after he attended a classical music concert in Southend
Reynald Duchene and Paula Haddlesey (pictured) were engaged and planning to emigrate to Canada to set up a guesthouse business
Wills, now 36, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and actual bodily harm in relation to an attack on a second guard who tried to intervene.
The court heard Wills had constructed the weapon out of an old DVD player which contained a sharp end designed to be used the same way as a knife.
The court heard other officers came to their colleague’s assistance and the victim was taken to hospital where he received stitches to his abdominal.
He also sustained lacerations to his head and back.
Wills kicked out at the other workers during the struggle and caused a broken finger and bruising to one of them.
Recorder Giuliani said: ‘I’m satisfied you made a weapon designed to be held in your hand with a sharp end.
‘It was designed to be a knife.’
The judge imposed a four-year jail term which will run alongside the life sentence.
Giuliani added: ‘You opened your cell door and you were standing at the back of the cell.
‘You were asked by the prison officer if you were alright, if you were OK, but you didn’t respond.
‘The officer describes there had been no previous issues or difficulties between you and him.
‘The officer then went about his duty unlocking other prisoners from their cells.
‘As he was walking along the landing stairs he describes you screaming towards him.
‘Others heard you shouting towards (the officer) ‘f***ing come on then.’
‘You then ran towards him. You were holding an improvised weapon in your hand.
The couple had gone to see the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra in Priory Park, Southend, Essex, to celebrate Haddlesey’s 44th birthday
Mr Duchene, 37, was stabbed as he tried to protect his fiancé (pictured) after Wills and another man pestered her and two friends as they left the open-air venue in June 2010
Prosecutor Albany Kidd said: ‘The defendant is currently serving a life sentence for murder imposed by the Crown Court at Chelmsford on the 13th of December 2010.
‘It relates to the killing of a male at an open-air concert in Southend.
‘It was a minimum term of 23 years. The defendant also has previous convictions for possession of a bladed article in 2007 and 2009.’
Previous inmates at the category A jail include Michael Adebolajo who was convicted of murdering British soldier Lee Rigby and former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, who is serving life for the killing of Sarah Everard.
Cainan Lonsdale, defending, told the court: ‘The defendant said he created (the weapon) about half an hour before this incident.
‘It’s not, for one of a better phrase, sophisticated in its nature. They are crumpled pieces of metal.’
Wills, who appeared from HMP Wakefield via video-link, thanked the court at the end of the hearing.
