A Perth court has heard how a man said he was proud of killing a child sex offender in Hakea Prison.
WARNING: This story contains details of violence that some readers may find distressing.
Key points:
- Evan James Martin has admitted killing convicted child sex offender Ashley Bropho
- A sentencing hearing has heard details of how the attack was carried out
- It also heard Martin wrote of his pride after carrying out the murder
Evan James Martin pleaded guilty in July to murdering Ashley Bropho in his cell in March.
During sentencing submissions in the Supreme Court, prosecutor David Lima described how Martin had attacked Bropho twice.
The court was told that on March 8, the day after Bropho pleaded guilty to child sex offences, a friend of Martin's was told he would be sharing his cell.
The man was concerned because he had himself been a victim of sexual abuse and he discussed this with Martin.
The court heard Martin told Bropho's cellmate: "I will kill him."
Minutes later, after Bropho had arrived, Martin went into the cell and assaulted him.
The court was told Martin "smashed" the 40-year-old's head "into shelving", and then lay on Bropho while another prisoner punched and kicked him.
Mr Lima told the court that on March 9, Martin went into Bropho's cell again when he was there alone and strangled him to death.
Later in March, the then 42-year-old told police "some words were said" before he killed Bropho.
The court was told Martin remembered "this piece of s**t blaming this poor little girl for his putrid sexual offending, shifting blame".
He told police in a letter of confession: "I finished him."
"I was extremely confident the dog was dead."
Letters reveal pride
In letters to friends, he said he was not ashamed of his actions, and said: "I did what I thought was right for me."
In a letter to the DPP, Martin said he was "f***ing so proud of taking his life".
The court heard that in February, Martin had told a prisoner that he would "stab or kill sex offenders and do the public a service".
The court was told that at the time of Bropho's murder, Martin was already serving a sentence for attempting to kill a prisoner who had been convicted of child sex offences.
He had crafted knife-like weapons which were used by another prisoner to repeatedly stab that victim at Acacia Prison in 2020.
Martin's lawyer Tony Elliott told the court his client was a child sex victim.
He said it was accepted Bropho was "particularly vulnerable because he was a prisoner".
'I intend to die in jail'
Mr Elliott described his client's thinking at the time as "disordered" and "he was less capable of rational thought", having had some mental health issues.
He said Martin wanted to be sentenced immediately.
Sitting in the dock, Martin exclaimed: "I intend to die in jail."
He asserted that he didn't want any legal submissions to be made on his behalf and anyway, they could occur without him being present.
"It can be done without me," he said.
"I asked especially to come in today because it was sentencing."
Following a break, Martin apologised for his outbursts.
Justice Bruno Fiannaca allowed Martin to leave the court while submissions continued.
The matter was ultimately adjourned until November 30.