“Nobody punks me off for a bag of chips.”

That was what Troy Campbell told fellow inmates at the Toronto “Don” Jail after stomping on the head of Jeff Munro, 32, on Nov. 7, 2009. He was angry that Munro, a “vulnerable” inmate with a history of psychiatric illness, had stolen and eaten a half a bag of Ruffles potato chips.

Campbell, in custody for robbery and aggravated assault, returned to Munro’s cell two or three times and assaulted him with his feet as he lay on his bed, Crown Margaret Creal told court, reading from an agreed statement of facts.

“Witnesses could hear the sound of the victim crying,” she said of Munro, who had worked several years earlier as a dancer on a Caribbean cruise.

On Tuesday, Campbell pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, reduced from first-degree murder. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Campbell, 26, had “special status” inside the notorious jail, conferred on him by his jailers for assisting guards distributing food to other inmates and cleaning tasks.

On the day of the murder, Campbell had asked another inmate for two bags of chips and a chocolate bar “in return for future consideration of extra food at meal times. Mr. Campbell received the items, which included a bag of all dressed Ruffles potato chips.”

Campbell then ate one of the bags of chips, opened the second bag and ate half. Munro took the bag and ate the rest in his cell, Creal told Superior Court Justice John McMahon.

Munro was in a “vulnerable mental state” and appeared to be “disorganized and confused” when he was arrested days earlier and charged with an indecent act and failing to comply with probation.

After banging noises were heard coming from Munro’s cell 18, Campbell told inmates he had knocked out Munro out and was stomping on his head because he was very angry over the stolen chips.

“Mr. Munro took a half eaten bag of potato chips. Mr. Campbell responded to this trivial incident by repeatedly assaulting Mr. Munro with his feet,” Creal said.

“There is an unwritten rule among inmates that you cannot allow another inmate to disrespect you because that is a sign of weakness which may encourage others to take advantage of you.”

Campbell ordered other inmates to cover Munro with a sheet and tell guards he was banging his head against the wall. He also threatened them. Munro was found around 7:43 p.m.

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The Crown has withdrawn first-degree murder charges against two other men.

A second-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence, but it is up to the judge to impose the eligibility period of between 10 and 25 years. Campbell also pleaded guilty to the robbery and aggravated assault but hasn’t yet been sentenced.