He's been known to wrestle out of leather wrist restraints.

Another time, federal inmate William Sablan threw steaming coffee on a guard's neck and threatened to kill him.

Those are among the allegations federal jurors heard Monday as prosecutors began making a case that Sablan, convicted of first-degree murder for killing and gutting his cellmate, is simply too dangerous to let live - even behind bars.

Sablan, 43, was found guilty last week in the death of Joey Estrella. Sablan strangled Estrella, 33, in October 1999 in their federal prison cell and cut his throat at least 60 times with a contraband plastic razor. Sablan then removed the victim's organs.

Sablan bragged about killing Estrella while sitting on the body, as guards, waiting for backup from other officers, videotaped the scene.

Sablan's cousin, Rudy Sablan, was in the cell when Estrella was murdered. He will be tried later for his alleged role in the slaying.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brenda Taylor said the prosecution will show that Sablan will continue to be a danger if kept in prison.

Former corrections supervisor Donald Thompson testified Monday that Sablan removed a desk in his cell and repeatedly rammed the door with it while crying and screaming.

Another witness, Lt. Brent Hunt, said Sablan threw coffee and milk at him after he served the prisoner a meal.

The prosecution also replayed the video of Sablan boasting about killing Estrella.

Sablan has made a "continuing succession of violent choices," Taylor said.

But defense attorney Patrick Burke said Sablan has mental problems and had a rough childhood.

Sablan had 14 siblings and was often beaten by his father in their native Saipan, an island in the Western Pacific, Burke said.

Sablan was in a common law marriage in the late 1980s and had five children. He was a good family man and his children still look up to him, Burke said.

The defense plans to offer testimony from a woman Sablan rescued from drowning near Saipan and have Sablan's siblings and children speak about him.

"He's done some horrific things," Burke said. "But there is another side."

doligosaf@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2970