'Man killed prisoner while on remand for stabbing'

PROSECUTION CLAIMS HE MEANT TO KILL ON BOTH OCCASIONS

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

A KNIFEMAN beat a fellow prisoner to death while on remand for trying to kill a Nottingham man he stabbed multiple times on his doorstep, a jury was told.

Andrew Thorpe attacked Jonathan Thornton in the showers at Nottingham Prison weeks after being sent there for plunging a knife into the head, neck and back of Declan Hayles, the prosecution said.

Following what the Crown described as a "vicious attack", Mr Thornton was found lifeless and never regained consciousness before dying two weeks later.

Mr Hayles suffered a number of stab wounds in the earlier assault but survived.

Thorpe, 38, of Alfred Street North, St Ann's, is on trial at Nottingham Crown Court for Mr Thornton's murder. He denies the charge but previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter as an alternative, less serious charge.

He also previously denied the attempted murder of Mr Hayles but pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on him, also as a lesser alternative.