Axe murderer Marcus Rappel will spend at least an extra three months in jail after being sentenced to more time over an unprovoked attack on a prison guard.
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Rappel, 45, first ended up behind bars after he brutally killed his former partner Tara Costigan with an axe as she cradled their newborn baby in her arms in Calwell in 2015.
Then, shortly after being sentenced in 2017 to more than 32 years in prison, he took part in the bashing of two brothers in their cells at Canberra's jail. He was subsequently sentenced to a further six years as a result of that incident.
On Wednesday, Rappel appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court to be sentenced for another assault behind bars.
Magistrate James Stewart said Rappel was serving time at the Alexander Maconochie Centre in June 2018 when he became involved in a fight with another inmate, resulting in a cut to his forehead.
Rappel grew impatient while being treated by a prison nurse and moved away to make himself a coffee whilst holding a bloodied bandage over the wound.
When a guard told Rappel he would have to wait for a coffee, Rappel turned and punched the man in the face.
The blow knocked the guard off balance and caused him immediate pain. Blood from Rappel's bandage also ended up on the guard's face.
Rappel then continued to lunge at the guard, who covered his face as other guards restrained the prisoner.
Mr Stewart described the attack as unprovoked.
He said the court must send a message to Rappel and other prisoners that guards had a right to feel safe at work, and that violence against them would not be tolerated.
The magistrate noted that members of Rappel's family visited him in prison and had high hopes that he could be rehabilitated because they could still see good in him.
Mr Stewart said Rappel had not reoffended since assaulting the prison guard nearly two years ago, and he now appeared to understand that any more offences committed in jail would result in further increases to his non-parole period.
But Mr Stewart said the court still had "every reason" to be guarded about Rappel's prospects for rehabilitation.
The magistrate sentenced Rappel to a further six months in jail, and extended his existing non-parole period by three months.
Rappel, who is these days housed at the notorious Goulburn Supermax prison in NSW, will now be eligible for parole in May 2044.
