THORNTON HEATH MAN JAILED FOR MANSLAUGHTER OF EX-PARTNER OVER CHILD SUPPORT ROW
A man responsible for the death of his child's mother has received an eight-year prison term.Jerome McDonald strangled his former partner, Janelle Duncan-Bailey, during a confrontation at his residence on Fairlands Avenue, Thornton Heath, in the early morning hours of January 2.
The father of three fatally attacked the 25-year-old, who was employed as a special needs school nurse, after she disclosed to his new partner that he was the father of her two-year-old son, Khamal.
Although a jury acquitted him of murder yesterday, they found him guilty of manslaughter.
During the sentencing today, His Honour Judge Gerald Gordon stated: "Two children have lost their mother, and her family and friends are understandably devastated, as reflected in the impact statements.
It is evident that you applied sustained pressure to her neck for at least 15 seconds, resulting in severe damage to the tissues in her neck, though not including the spine itself." Throughout his trial, the Old Bailey heard that the 31-year-old admitted to police that he had pushed Miss Duncan-Bailey, causing her to fall and hit her head.
He claimed that once she stopped breathing, he placed her in a sturdy bin liner, wrapped her in a bedsheet, and then put her into the trunk of his car.
He drove a short distance, parked on nearby Mayfield Crescent, and then pretended to be concerned when her family and police searched for her.
A post-mortem examination conducted at Croydon Mortuary on January 7 confirmed that death resulted from asphyxia and neck compression.
Detective Chief Inspector Charles King of the Homicide and Major Crime Command commented: "Investigating Janelle's death was particularly difficult, especially for her loved ones who faced an initial missing persons inquiry followed by a murder investigation.
The truth eventually emerged, revealing McDonald's involvement.
Initially, he appeared to care about Janelle's disappearance, but the investigation proved otherwise.
Her family and friends have shown tremendous courage attending court and listening to the distressing details.
I hope this conviction offers some comfort and helps them move forward." In mitigation, defense QC Orlando Pownall argued that both Miss Duncan-Bailey and McDonald behaved uncharacteristically on the night of her death.
He noted that McDonald expressed remorse, saying: "He felt a sense of remorse, as he stated at one point, 'What will my child think of me?'" emphasizing that this was genuine acknowledgment of wrongdoing, not self-pity.
Pownall also highlighted that there was no evidence a weapon was used in her death and suggested the injury could have been caused by McDonald grabbing her neck with his hand, as the involvement of a ligature was not confirmed.
