Key Points:
- Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, 25, was found dead in a car in Hackney, East London, on April 6, 2024.
- Her boyfriend, Gogoa Lois Tape, 28, was arrested and pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and possession of a bladed article.
- Tape was sentenced to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a restriction order under Section 41, meaning he could be detained indefinitely.
- The killing occurred at approximately 11:25 pm on April 5, 2024, caused by manual compression to the neck.
- Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche also suffered blunt force injuries from being punched and defensive wounds from a knife attack.
- After the killing, Tape moved her body, drove around to avoid detection, sent texts impersonating her, and confessed to his brother about six and a half hours later.
- Tape was diagnosed with undiagnosed schizophrenia with paranoid and persecutory delusions impacting his judgment.
- The victim’s mother and family expressed devastation and feel betrayed by the justice system, criticising the manslaughter verdict for lacking penal punishment.
- Police used CCTV, ANPR, and car tracker evidence to piece together events.
- The case highlights issues surrounding mental health, domestic violence, and legal responses to tragic killings.
What happened in the case of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche’s death?
As reported by ITV News, Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, aged 25, was found dead inside her Vauxhall vehicle on Whiston Road, Hackney, on April 6, 2024. Her boyfriend, Gogoa Lois Tape, 28, who lived nearby, was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and having a bladed article in a public place. Prosecutor Julia Faure-Walker told Inner London Crown Court that Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche died from manual compression to the neck. She also sustained blunt force injuries consistent with being punched several times, as well as wounds on her hands indicating she tried to defend herself from a knife attack.
How did Gogoa Lois Tape act after killing Kennedi?
After killing Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche at about 11:25 pm on April 5, 2024, Tape moved her from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat, buckled her seatbelt, and drove around to avoid the neighbours seeing the body. He bought cigarettes and sent a message from her phone to one of her friends impersonating her. About six and a half hours later, he confessed to his brother, saying “I killed Kennedi, bro”.
What was said during the court sentencing?
Judge Freya Newbery sentenced Tape to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a restriction order under Section 41 at Inner London Crown Court. She referenced victim impact statements made by Kennedi’s mother and sisters, describing Kennedi as “a bright and beautiful young woman” killed just three weeks before her daughter’s second birthday. The judge said the daughter, who is Tape’s child, is now motherless and will carry the trauma of her mother’s death for life. She added that the family is “shattered and broken”.
Judge Newbery also stated that Tape was an undiagnosed schizophrenic at the time, with paranoid and persecutory delusions that substantially impaired his judgment and self-control. Tape admitted to losing his head and having been mentally unwell for years, exacerbated by cannabis use since 2014.
How did the police investigation unfold?
Detective Inspector Aytac Necati from the Specialist Crime North team told the Metropolitan Police that this was a tragic incident and expressed condolences to Kennedi’s family and friends. Police used CCTV footage, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), and car tracker evidence to track Tape’s movements and events leading up to the murder. The footage showed Tape was the last person with Kennedi in the car before she was killed. He was seen standing by the car and lunging into it for about eight minutes at the time police believe the killing took place.
Tape’s brother became a key witness after Tape confessed to him. It was the brother who reported the incident to police early on the morning of April 6, leading to Tape’s arrest at the scene. A kitchen knife was found in the car, which Tape admitted to possessing.
How has the victim’s family responded to the sentencing?
Linda Westcarr, Kennedi’s mother, expressed profound grief and anger toward the justice system. She told ITV News, “My daughter Kennedi was brutally taken from us by someone she trusted, someone we welcomed into our home and trusted like family.” She described the devastating impact on her granddaughter who still asks for her mother and holds on to small happy memories like her mummy making pasta. She said, “This wasn’t just one life lost, it was a family shattered”.
According to The Telegraph, the family criticised the manslaughter verdict, highlighting that it carried no penal element or traditional punishment, which they found unacceptable. They stated feeling “absolutely betrayed” by the justice system not providing real justice for Kennedi.
What role did mental health and substance use play in the case?
Psychiatrists concluded that Tape was undiagnosed with schizophrenia suffering from paranoid and persecutory delusions at the time of the killing, which severely affected his decision-making and control. The court heard that his mental health had deteriorated from 2023, marked by paranoia and jealousy. He also was a long-term cannabis user, which likely worsened his condition. Tape had some contact with mental health professionals before the killing but remained undiagnosed until after the tragedy.
What does this case reveal about issues around domestic violence and justice?
The case raises critical questions about the protection of domestic abuse victims and the justice system’s handling of perpetrators with mental health problems. Despite warning signs and the abusive nature of their relationship, Kennedi was tragically killed. The family’s sense of betrayal reflects wider public concern about how domestic violence cases are managed and the adequacy of legal protections.
The Metropolitan Police stated their commitment to improving responses to violence against women and girls and using all tools available to protect vulnerable individuals. They are focusing on identifying high-risk offenders and locations as part of their New Met for London strategy.
