Long Bay Jail: John Walsh charged over sandwich press murder of inmate

LONG Bay prisoner John Walsh, 77, appeared in court charged with bashing cellmate, convicted killer Frank Townsend, to death with a sandwich press.

John Walsh has been charged with the murder of his cellmate.

A 77-YEAR-OLD prisoner allegedly stuffed a Breville sandwich press into a pillow case before swinging the makeshift weapon repeatedly into the head of a similarly elderly cellmate who later died from his horrific injuries.

Police yesterday charged inmate John Walsh with murdering fellow convicted killer Frank Townsend, 71, with the prison-issued sandwich press inside Long Bay’s Kevin Waller unit about 11pm on Monday.

Dressed in a white hospital gown, Walsh appeared via video link at Parramatta Bail Court in the afternoon, cupping his left hand to his ear as he struggled to hear the brief proceedings.

John Walsh is escorted from Maroubra police station after being charged with the murder of his Long Bay cell mate. Picture: Seven News

When acting magistrate Mark Shepherd formally adjourned the case and asked if the accused understood what had occurred, he replied: “Yes, got that … thank you.”

After his court appearance Walsh was expected to be transported from the holding cells at Surry Hills police station to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater.

It is understood Walsh had never complained about his cellmate before the alleged murder.

A NSW Corrective Services spokeswoman said officers heard loud noises coming from the cell and they discovered Townsend bloodied on the floor with severe head injuries. Townsend was taken by ambulance to St Vincent’s Hospital in a critical condition and later died.

Walsh is accused of bashing his cellmate to death with a sandwich press.

Correctives Services issued a statement which said: “There were no association issues between the two ­inmates and nothing to indicate that such an incident would occur.”

It is standard practice to have two inmates in a cell at the Kevin Waller Unit, which is for the frail and elderly, and the home of convicted killer and former police officer Roger Rogerson.

Prisoners are allowed to buy and keep sandwich makers in cells to make toasted sandwiches and warm up food. The items are considered a luxury and can be purchased by inmates only if friends or family put money in their account.

The attack took place inside the Kevin Waller Unit at Long Bay jail. Picture: John Appleyard

Corrective Services Minister David Elliott said there were three separate investigations into the death, and that he would be speaking to the Corrective Services commissioner to make sure everything was being done to ensure prisoner safety.

“Prisons are bad places where bad people go, and because we have to manage them in the most appropriate, safe and certainly tax-effective way, sometimes prisoners have to share cells,” he said yesterday.

Walsh’s case is expected to be mentioned at Central Local Court on January 17.