George Marrogi, 34 pleads guilty in Sunshine Magistrates’ Court to assaults of corrections guard
Convicted murderer George Marrogi squirted faeces on a guard and set his cell on fire because he felt prison staff had co-ordinated a regime to make life inside worse.
Melbourne City
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Jailed crime boss George Marrogi sprayed faeces on a prison guard and twice set fire to his cell in a “tit-for-tat” against a corrections “regime” to make his life worse, a court has heard.
The 34-year-old pleaded guilty in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to two count of criminal damage, two counts of assault.
The court heard on May 28 last year, Marrogi had complained to Barwon Prison staff that he was entitled to more phone calls but when they refused he threatened to set fire to his cell.
About 8pm officers were alerted to smoke billowing from the cell and as staff attempted to put out the fire Marrogi became abusive, blocking their efforts to deal with the fire.
The then 33-year-old suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to Geelong Hospital.
An X-ray revealed he had swallowed what appeared to be a USB-stick or dongle which was surgically removed.
His barrister Peter Morrissey SC told the court the dongle had been consumed up to a year prior and was heavily corroded and unusable.
On January 28, a prison guard had come to serve Marrogi food when he reached out with a small bottle and sprayed liquid faeces on the guard’s face and upper body.
The court heard he shouted “eat this sh-- you c---” before he squirted the bottle.
The guard had to be decontaminated and take tests to detect any potential infectious disease.
On March 13, while being escorted by four guards for a video court appearance, Marrogi “leveraged” off one guard to kick out at the others, striking one on the buttock.
On April 8, Marrogi inserted two metal prongs into a socket to set off another fire in his cell.
When officers arrived, there was smoke and flame coming from a mattress placed on the floor.
The court heard that during each fire, he did about $6200 worth of damage.
In court, Mr Morrissey said that in April his client launched Supreme Court civil proceedings in relation to how corrections had “conducted themselves” towards Marrogi.
Mr Morrissey said his client had endured “terrible” conditions of solitary confinement, had been restricted with phone calls and visitors, had no opportunity to interact with other prisoners and believed staff had coordinated late night works to make loud noise while he tried to sleep.
He said of Marrogi — who is not eligible for parole until 2049 — that the guilty plea assisted the court greatly.
Mr Morrissey alluded to a particularly “nightmarish” part of Marrogi’s imprisonment when he learned thieves had desecrated the grave of his sister Meshilin — who died aged 30 in 2021 — last July.
Picture: Supplied
Magistrate Wardell said the incident involving the human faeces was “repugnant” and that prison staff have a right to feel safe at work and go about their day uninhibited.
He said Marrogi would be “an old man” — aged 60 — before he is eligible for parole.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, to be served concurrently, and ordered to pay restitution on the criminal damage.
When asked if he understood, Marrogi simply replied “yes I do”.
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