Killer used toilet shard in attack at HMP Frankland, Durham

Koci Selamaj smashed the toilet bowl in his cell at Durham’s HMP Frankland and stabbed a prison officer with a porcelain shard, before also punching a colleague of the victim, Newcastle Crown Court was told today (Wed Sep 4).

The 37-year-old former garage worker was jailed for life in April 2022 for murdering Sabina Nessa, 28, as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east London.

He admitted wounding one officer with intent to cause really serious harm at Frankland Prison, the top security jail at Brasside on the outskirts of Durham, and also assaulting a colleague of the principal victim, causing him actual bodily harm, during the incident in May, last year.

(Image: The Metropolitan Police)

Judge Penny Moreland sentenced him to four-and-a-half years in jail and said he should continue to be treated at Broadmoor Secure Hospital, in Berkshire, for his mental illness until he is well enough to return to the prison system.

The court how Selamaj was in his cell at Frankland when a prison officer asked if he would be leaving for lunch.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Suddenly, the life prisoner let out a scream and began to smash up his toilet before arming himself with a shard of porcelain with which he used to launch an attack.

The officer was stabbed in the knee and forearm, before being assisted by colleagues, one of whom was punched two or three times in the face by Selamaj.

Judge Moreland said it appeared that the piece of porcelain was sharp enough to be considered like a blade.

In a victim statement, the stabbed officer said that in 10 years in the prison service he had never been assaulted and that he had loved his job.

He described the defendant’s strength as, “unbelievable”.

“I feel very lucky, as it could have been worse.

“Selamaj is in prison for murder, so I know what he is capable of.”

Aidan Harvey, in mitigation, said Selamaj used to hear voices and thought, “the electricity in the wall was talking to him”.

(Image: The Metropolitan Police/The Northern Echo)

Mr Harvey told the court that the defendant’s mental condition has improved since he began his treatment at Broadmoor.

Judge Moreland was told Selamaj will be at least 73 years old before he is eligible to apply for parole.

She determined that he will only serve the sentence for attacking the prison officers after the minimum term for murdering Ms Nessa has been completed.

Selamaj observed the proceedings via a video link from Broadmoor.

He had refused to come to court when he was sentenced at the Old Bailey for Ms Nessa’s murder, causing widespread outrage.

The Old Bailey heard how he travelled to London from the south coast to carry out the premeditated attack on a random woman on September 17, 2021.

He targeted Ms Nessa as she walked through the park to meet a friend.

CCTV footage captured the moment Selamaj ran up behind her and hit her over the head 34 times with a 2ft-long metal traffic triangle.

Having carried her unconscious body up a grassy bank and out of view, he then pulled up her clothes, removed her tights and underwear, and strangled her before covering her body in grass.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

Man who killed teacher attacks officers in HMP Frankland

Sabina Nessa killer branded ‘coward’ for failing to attend sentence

Agitated killer attacked officer in HMP Frankland, Durham

Get more from The Northern Echo and stay informed with a digital subscription. Click here to find out more by clicking here

Ms Nessa, who taught a year-one class at Rushey Green Primary School in Catford, London, was found almost 24 hours later near a community centre in the park.

Days later, Selamaj, from Eastbourne, in East Sussex, was arrested in the seaside town and pleaded guilty to murder.

Mr Justice Nigel Sweeney described the killing at Selamaj’s sentencing hearing as, “a savage”, sexually-motivated attack.