HACKNEY MAN DETAINED IN MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL AFTER GIRLFRIEND'S MURDER
A man named Gogoa Lois Tape, aged 28, who lived in Hackney, east London, has been sentenced following the murder of his girlfriend Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche at about 11.25pm on April 5, 2024.The victim was found dead in a Vauxhall vehicle in Whiston Road, Hackney.
The cause of death was manual compression to the neck, with evidence of blunt force injuries and defensive wounds on her hands.
Tape admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and having a bladed article in a public place.
He was ultimately sentenced to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a restriction order under Section 41, meaning he can be detained indefinitely.
Throughout the court proceedings, it was revealed that Tape was an undiagnosed schizophrenic with paranoid and persecutory delusions that impaired his judgment.
The court heard that his mental health declined from 2023, with symptoms including paranoia and jealousy.
The incident shocked the community, and the victim’s family expressed grief, highlighting that she was a bright woman and emphasizing the devastating impact of her death on her young daughter.
Sentence details include that Tape moved her body from the driver’s seat to the passenger side after the murder, drove away to conceal evidence, bought cigarettes, and sent a misleading message from her phone.
About six and a half hours after the killing, Tape confessed to his brother, saying, “I killed Kennedi, bro.” He was detained after this confession.
The court was also told that Tape had some mental health contact prior to the incident and had been warned to abstain from cannabis, which he had smoked since 2014.
Judge Freya Newbery noted his mental health condition and the impact of his distorted perceptions on his actions.
Family members of the victim, including her mother Linda Westcarr, described her as a bright young woman taken too soon by someone she trusted.
The court heard that Tape's mental health issues included paranoid and paranoid delusions that significantly impaired his control and judgment, leading to this tragic outcome.
