Parklea jail stabbing: Three men face court over Michael Black stabbing death

Three inmates at Parklea jail have faced court for the first time over their alleged roles in the stabbing death of inmate Michael Black in April. Black was allegedly stabbed with a shiv while waiting to appear in court.

Inmate Michael Black, 33, was fatally stabbed at Parklea Correctional Centre in April. Picture: Facebook

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Three men charged over the alleged stabbing death of an inmate at Parklea jail have faced court.

Matthew Bennis, 28, of East Corrimal, and Emmett Raymond Sheard, 28, of Newcastle, appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, charged over their alleged roles in the fatal stabbing of inmate Michael Black.

Alleged co-offender Luke Anthony Welford, 40, of Cabramatta, appeared from custody at Blacktown Local Court yesterday.

Michael Black, 33, was on remand at Parklea jail at the time of his stabbing death. Picture: Facebook

Black had been in custody since February, charged over the alleged armed robbery of Berkeley Post Office Picture: Facebook

Police allege 33-year-old Black, of Berkeley, was stabbed multiple times with a shiv at Parklea Correctional Centre just after 12.30pm on April 21.

It is understood he was in a common area waiting to enter a designated audio-visual suite for his scheduled court appearance when the alleged attack took place.

He was treated at the jail by St Vincent’s Health staff, but died before paramedics arrived.

Sheard was charged with murder and possessing an offensive weapon at a correctional facility after spending two days in Westmead Hospital for injuries to his hand. He will face court again on July 23.

A photo of Emmett Raymond Sheard, issued six years ago when he was wanted on warrants. Picture: NSW Police

Emmett Raymond Sheard, 28, centre, is accused of stabbing inmate Michael Black to death at Parklea jail. Picture: Facebook

Welford faces two charges, including wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (accessory after the fact) and possessing an offensive weapon at a correctional facility. He will face Blacktown Local Court again on July 23.

Bennis faces one charge of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (accessory after the fact). He will return to court on July 9.

Parklea Correctional Centre. Picture: Kate Lockley

In a statement from jail operator MTC-Broadspectrum released at the time of Black’s death, the jail said it would conduct an “immediate review”.

Black was on remand at the jail when he died, charged over an alleged armed robbery at Berkeley Post Office in February.