A CANNABIS-addict boyfriend strangled his girlfriend to death and drove her lifeless body around for two hours.
Gogoa Lois Tape, 28, admitted to killing young mother Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, 25, in a jealous psychotic attack last year.
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He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility after the Crown Prosecution Service previously agreed to drop a murder charge – despite the pleas of Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche’s devastated family.
Her mother Linda Westcarr told a sentencing hearing: “It is deeply painful to know that despite the overwhelming truth of what Tape did, the legal system has given room to this version of events, in a system meant to protect the innocent.
“That too is a gaping wound. Whatever happens will not bring our daughter back.”
Her sister Danielle told the court: “I feel I have had to advocate for myself and for my family’s safety throughout this process.
“Kennedi deserved protection in life and she deserves justice in death.”
Tape, who shared a three-year-old daughter with Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche, was regularly using cannabis despite being told by doctors to stop as it was causing episodes of psychosis.
The court heard that in the months before her death, Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche had found a note written by Tape in which he wrote that he wanted to kill her and her mother.
Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche was killed on April 5 2024, when she had picked him up under the pretence of driving him to a job.
CCTV shown to the court shows the car stopping before Tape walked round to the driver’s side, opened the door, and lunged at Kennedi.
He stayed in that position for eight minutes, with the prosecution saying that this is when Tape was strangling her.
Prosecutor Julia Faura Walker told the court: “After the killing, he moved her from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat and buckled the seatbelt.
“He drove away so that the neighbours would not see; he continued to drive around the local area with her slumped next to him.
“He parked the car and bought cigarettes from a shop and sent a message from the deceased’s phone to her friend’s phone pretending to be her.”
Domestic abuse – how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone – including men – and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
- Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
- Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
- Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
- Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
Despite having access to her phone, Tape did not call for medical help. It was only six and a half hours later that he confessed to his brother that he had killed his partner, who then called the police.
Kennedi was described as a “vibrant” and “loving” mother who had previously worked in marketing for the Prince’s Trust, and met King Charles twice during her job.
After giving birth to her daughter, she went to work at the charity Marie Curie.
Tape’s sentencing hearing is ongoing at Inner London Crown Court.
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