Home Hill backpacker murder: Accused moved to Brisbane

THE man accused of last month’s backpacker double murder has been moved to Brisbane amid claims he was trying to force guards to kill him.

Smail Ayad is accused of killing two Brits, including Mia Ayliffe-Chung.

THE man accused of last month’s backpacker double murder in north Queensland has been moved to Brisbane.

Prison sources claim he was trying to force guards at Townsville Correctional Centre to kill him.

The Courier-Mail understands Smail Ayad, the French national accused of murdering Britons Mia Ayliffe-Chung and Tom Jackson on August 23 at the Home Hill hostel, was moved under heavy guard on a chartered flight from the ­Stuart prison to a secure mental health facility in Brisbane late last Thursday.

Townsville Correctional Centre sources said Ayad had made threats and lashed out at guards hoping they would ­retaliate and kill him.

It was “common knowledge” among guards that Ayad had told psychologists he wanted to die. A warning was issued to staff to be careful when dealing with him.

Sources said Ayad required special treatment while at Stuart, with guards forced to take extra precautions when moving him outside for his required recreational time.

Tom Jackson died from his injuries. Picture: AAP Image/Facebook

Ayad was made to lie on the ground, hands behind his head, before guards would enter the cell and restrain him with handcuffs. When he was returned to the cell, Ayad would struggle as the handcuffs were removed and threw wild punches and kicks at cell doors once released.

“He was painful to deal with. Every time he had to be moved it was always a big commotion,” one source said.

“He was very high profile. You could see he was preparing for something. Who knows what was going through his mind.

It is unclear if Ayad was moved to Brisbane as a result of the threats.

He allegedly hospitalised two detectives while being transferred to the watch-house soon after his arrest.

Sources said it also took seven police to get him into a cell at the watch-house.

Police later cited public safety as the reason Ayad did not appear in court in person at his first mention last month.

It is unclear whether Ayad will return to Townsville for his next court date on October 28, or if the matter will be moved to Brisbane.

A Queensland Corrective Services spokesman would not comment.

Originally published as Home Hill backpacker murder: Accused moved to Brisbane