Man who killed his girlfriend in car detained with hospital order

Man who killed his girlfriend in car detained with hospital order

A man has been detained after fatally injuring his girlfriend inside a car in east London. The tragic incident took place on April 6th last year when Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, 25, was found dead in a Vauxhall car on Whiston Road, Hackney. She had been strangled by her boyfriend, Gogoa Lois Tape, 28, who later confessed to his brother. Tape was sentenced to a hospital order after admitting manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and carrying a knife.

Inner London Crown Court revealed that Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche was killed by “manual compression to the neck,” while also sustaining injuries indicating she had tried to defend herself from a knife attack. After taking her life, Tape moved her body to the passenger seat, fastened the seat belt, and drove away, using her phone to impersonate her in text messages to friends. The following day, he confessed to his brother, stating that he had been struggling with mental health issues for the past few years.

Tape’s declining mental health and long-term cannabis use were cited in court as contributing factors to the tragic event. The victim’s mother, Linda Westcarr, expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence handed down to Tape, advocating for a prison term instead. She criticized the perceived leniency of the justice system in cases of violence against women, questioning the lack of deterrence for perpetrators. The family plans to appeal the sentence on the grounds of undue leniency, as they continue to grapple with the loss of their loved one.

Judge Freya Newbery highlighted the devastating impact of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche’s death on her family, emphasizing the loss felt by her young daughter. In victim impact statements, family members described the profound grief and trauma resulting from the brutal loss of a beloved family member. Linda Westcarr lamented her daughter’s tragic fate at the hands of someone she trusted, leaving her granddaughter to grow up without a mother. The aftermath of the incident has left a lasting scar on the family, forever altering their lives

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