Mum killer Jessica Camilleri charged after allegedly attacking prison guards

Jailed killer Jessica Camilleri has been charged with attacks on two prison officers including on one occasion “pulling hair from one’s scalp”.

Jailed killer Jessica Camilleri has been charged with attacks on two prison officers including on one occasion “pulling hair from one’s scalp”, as she struggles to adapt to permanent life behind bars.

Camilleri, 28, was sentenced to a maximum 21 years prison in March over the horrific decapitation of her mother Rita at her St Clair home, in Sydney’s west, in 2019.

Over the first few months of her time behind bars Camilleri has created a headache for guards at Silverwater Prison, allegedly lashing out against them violently on at least two occasions – including leaving one prison officer needing treatment at hospital.

Court documents detail allegations that Camilleri first inflicted actual bodily harm on a female prison officer about 2pm on August 14, by grabbing a handful of her hair and yanking.

Jessica Camilleri has struggled to adapt to permanent life behind bars. Picture: Supplied

Rita Camilleri was killed by her daughter Jessica at her St Clair home in July 2019.

She attacked another female guard in a second alleged incident on October 10.

“A 27-year-old inmate pulled the hair of a correctional officer at Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre on Saturday, 14 August 2021,” a Correctives Services NSW spokesman said.

“The inmate was placed in segregation and NSW Police were notified. The officer was assessed at hospital for a head injury and was released from hospital on the same day.

“On October 10 the inmate pulled the hair of another officer and NSW Police were notified. We are providing all available support to the assaulted officers.”

Camilleri was cleared of murdering her mother but convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a non-parole period of 16 years and two months, but has since launched an appeal against her sentence.

Camilleri was earlier this year convicted of assaulting another inmate, claiming she had been “bullied”.

In that incident in April she walked behind the other prisoner, grabbed her hair and “vaulted” her while she was sitting, court documents state.

“They don’t like me and people outside want me to face more time,” Camilleri told Burwood Local Court over audiovisual link in April.

“I always get targeted too because of my crime.

“They single me out in prison because of the nature of my crime. No matter what I do, no matter where I go other prisoners will make my life a living hell.”

Two prisoner officers at Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre have allegedly been attacked by Camilleri in recent months. Picture: Richard Dobson

Camilleri was convicted of common assault but without any additional punishment.

As a 25-year-old in July 2019 she set upon her mother Rita with kitchen knives, in an attack so graphic that many details cannot be published.

Despite the fact she had left her mother decapitated, body worn footage from police officers played in the NSW Supreme Court showed how in the aftermath Camilleri asked “they can’t restart her heart or anything?”.

NSW Supreme Court Justice Helen Wilson said Rita Camilleri had died in “the most horrible manner imaginable”.

Camilleri is next due to face Burwood Local Court on the charges relating to both prison officer attacks on November 10.