A convicted killer was caught with a weaponised toilet roll in his cell at Perth Prison.
Stuart Murdoch, who was jailed for life for the murder of Glasgow rival Anthony Laurie in 2015, tried to hide the bladed cardboard tube when prison officers searched his room.
The 32-year-old self-described “hard man” appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted having a handmade weapon behind bars on November 17 2021.
He was told the offence could impact his chances of release when he is up for parole in 2031.
Last year, Murdoch pled guilty to assaulting a prison officer at HMP Shotts, leaving him permanently scarred.
He attacked guard Kevin Hill after he questioned him about having a metal pole in his cell.
Challenged by guards
Of his latest crime, fiscal depute Michael Sweeney said prison staff carried out a routine search of Murdoch’s cell at about 10am.
“Prior to the search, the accused was asked if he had anything that he should not have.
“The accused was seen to be trying conceal an object in his right hand.
“He was challenged about that and he showed the item to the officers.
“It was a homemade bladed weapon, described as a cardboard roll with a sharp metal object protruding from one of the ends.”
Mr Sweeney said: “This was seized by the prison officers and the accused was informed he would be placed on report.
“Some time later, the police were notified.”
Prisoner lost privileges
Solicitor Douglas McAllister, defending, said: “For what it’s worth, he did not make this weapon.
“He found this item and retained it and he accepts he tried to conceal it when prison officers were searching his cell.”
Mr McAllister said: “He did suffer loss of privileges as a result of this.
“More importantly, this will affect his prospects of a parole.
“When he reaches the point where he becomes eligible, it is highly unlikely the board will grant any request for immediate release.”
Sheriff Paul Reid told Murdoch: “There’s a certain artificiality of any sentence I impose today.
“Committing an offence like this in custody will inevitably make it more difficult to secure your release at the earliest opportunity.
“As you will have been told, a life sentence does not carry with it any entitlement for you to be released at any point.
“It is contingent on your behaviour and your progress and all of that has been compromised by this.”
Murdoch was handed a concurrent sentence of 14 months.
Murder trial
The High Court in Edinburgh heard Murdoch, then 25, murdered Mr Laurie during a confrontation at a house in the Cumbernauld on October 1, 2015.
Murdoch repeatedly stabbed his 25-year-old victim after he tried to buy valium from him.
The pair had fallen out after Murdoch boasted about being a “hard man” from a “rough part of Glasgow.”
He was found guilty following a trial. Lord Drummond Young told him: “In these circumstances I have no other option but to imprison you for life.”
Murdoch was told the punitive part of his sentence would last for 16 years.
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