A prisoner who killed his cellmate with a flat screen television in a “frenzied, one-sided attack” has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Jordan Palmer assaulted Terry Ojuederie, 42, from Watford, in their cell at HMP Peterborough on December 9 last year.

Watford Observer:

Terry Ojuederie

Prison officers suspected Palmer, 26, had been smoking the synthetic cannabis substitute “spice” shortly before the attack.

Palmer was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility at Peterborough Crown Court on Wednesday, following a two-and-a-half week trial. He is due to be sentenced today (Thursday).

At around 1am on the morning of the attack, Palmer rang a buzzer from his cell and told a prison officer he was unwell.

The officer contacted a nurse and went to the cell to advise Palmer to drink some water, and said the nurse would be along shortly.

Twelve minutes later, Palmer rang the intercom again, saying: “I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened.”

The prison officer returned to the cell to find Palmer covered in blood, and Mr Ojuederie lying on the floor with “horrific” injuries.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Palmer, who was serving a six year sentence for GBH, was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to Thorpe Wood police station.

Following questioning, he was bailed to HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes while detectives gathered evidence, and on March 2 was charged with Mr Ojuederie’s murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Gallop, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "The attack was one of the most vicious I have seen, and happened at a time when Terry Ojuederie was unable to defend himself or escape.

"I can only say as some small consolation that in all probability Terry would have lost consciousness very quickly. On the evidence presented during the trial, the jury has found Palmer guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and I respect that decision.

"Very sadly, in this case, a man has lost his life and a family have lost a loved one.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Ojuederie's family and friends at this difficult time, and I commend them for the dignity and respect they have demonstrated through a very difficult court process.”

A statement from Mr Ojuederie’s family read: “There was never going to be a happy outcome of this trial for us.

“Terry was brutally killed in a frenzied, one-sided attack by his cellmate. Nothing can bring Terry back to us or take away the pain and devastation we are living with each day.

“The bitter feeling at how this could happen in prison, a place we thought Terry would be safe, will remain with us forever, as will the torment of not knowing for sure the truth of what really happened in his cell that night.

“Terry was kind, caring and loving. He was very sociable and always tried to see the best in people. He never wanted to hurt anyone and always tried to help people where he could.

“We miss him so much and think about him constantly.”