A woman in mourning faces the difficult task of informing her granddaughter that her mother was killed by her father. Linda Westcarr remains in a state of disbelief after the tragic death of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, who was strangled by her possessive partner, Gogoa Tape, with whom she had been in a relationship for nine years. Linda now cares for the couple’s toddler daughter, who is too young to comprehend the gravity of Tape’s actions.
Initially charged with murder, Tape had the charge reduced to manslaughter by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) based on diminished responsibility. He recently received an indefinite hospital order after admitting to manslaughter by diminished responsibility, attributing his actions to a mental health disorder triggered by his cannabis use.
Linda expressed outrage at what she considers a significant miscarriage of justice, dismissing the evidence of Tape’s mental illness as weak and insufficient. She anticipates the difficult conversation she will have to have with her granddaughter, revealing the truth that “Daddy killed your mummy.” The loss of Kennedi, described by Linda as a vibrant and loving individual, has left a deep void, compounded by the fact that her granddaughter has been left without her mother.
Despite Judge Freya Newbery acknowledging Tape’s responsibility in Kennedi’s death, she cited his diminished capacity due to a severe psychotic illness. Linda, a senior education welfare officer, disputes the adequacy of the psychiatric assessments that led to the downgrading of the murder charge, insisting that justice has not been served for Kennedi or their family.
To alleviate some of the financial burden of raising her granddaughter, a family member has set up a GoFundMe page for Linda. Those willing to contribute can do so by visiting the provided link.
