NORFOLK MURDERER GETS ANOTHER LIFE SENTENCE FOR PRISON ATTACK ON CHILD KILLER
A man convicted of the murder of a Norfolk woman slashed child killer Mark Bridger from temple to chin, severing an artery, to get him to reveal where April Jones's body was hidden, a court heard yesterday.The offender, Juvinai Ferreira, 24, attacked Bridger with a weapon fashioned out of a prison-issue razor with extra blades attached to the handle at Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, in July.
He was sentenced to a second life sentence at Leeds Crown Court and had five years added to his minimum term, meaning he will not be released before 2036.
Mr Justice Coulson emphasized that the motive was no mitigation, stating, 'Convicted murderers cannot appoint themselves as unpaid investigators of another crime, no matter how serious.
They plainly cannot do that by themselves committing violent crime to do so.' Ferreira, who was born in Guinea and grew up in Gambia, previously admitted wounding with intent.
The attack happened three days after Bridger was allowed to associate with other prisoners.
Ferreira saw Bridger, walked directly up to him with the razor held between thumb and forefinger, and slashed him down the face, causing a deep wound extending from temple to chin, that required more than 30 stitches and surgery under general anaesthetic.
Bridger also suffered a cut to his arm as he tried to defend himself.
The court heard that prisoners had discussed attacking Bridger to make him reveal the location of April Jones's body, with police informed of the intentions.
Ferreira, when sentenced, replied simply, 'No problem.' He arrived in the UK in 2007 with his mother and in April that year, he raped and murdered 47-year-old Elaine Walpole in Dereham, Norfolk, after befriending her, stabbing her through the neck, with bite marks on her cheek and chin.
Ferreira was jailed for life in 2009 with a minimum term of 22 years and was recommended for deportation after his sentence.
Mr Justice Coulson stated that his sentence for attacking Bridger had to be consecutive to his existing sentences for the attack on Walpole for deterrent purposes.
He is considered a dangerous offender, and his further life sentence reflects this.
Bridger, a father of six, was abducted near his home in Wales, and his body has never been found; his funeral was recently held.
Ferreira's attack on Bridger was related to discussions in prison about making Bridger reveal the whereabouts of April Jones's body, and it was carried out using a weapon he fashioned himself.
The judge's sentence underscores that life prisoners cannot attack each other with impunity, marking Ferreira as a serious threat and dangerous offender.
