Man Locked Up Indefinitely After Fatal Stabbing of Girlfriend in Haggerston
A 29-year-old man has been slapped with an indefinite hospital order after the tragic death of his girlfriend, who was found lifeless in her car last year.
Fateful Night Ends in Horror
Gogoa Tape, of Marsworth House, Haggerston, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Monday, September 1. He was ordered under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a Section 41 restriction, meaning he can be detained indefinitely.
The case centres on the death of 25-year-old Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, discovered unresponsive in her car on Talavera Place near Whiston Road on the morning of Saturday, April 6, 2024.
Brutal Attack Caught on CCTV
- Police forced entry to Kennedi’s car shortly after 7.15am but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
- CCTV showed Tape lunging into her parked car at 11.25pm the night before, staying inside for eight minutes—the moment believed to be the deadly attack.
- Despite having their phones, Tape failed to call for help. Instead, he confessed to his brother, who found Kennedi’s body and alerted police at 6.42am.
- A kitchen knife was recovered from the car.
Guilty Plea After Mental Health Assessment
Tape was arrested at the scene and initially charged with murder. However, psychiatric exams revealed he suffered from schizophrenia with paranoid delusions during the attack.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility and possession of a bladed weapon.
Police React to Tragic Death
“This is a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with Kennedi’s family and friends as they continue to process what happened. This young woman’s life was cruelly cut short.” – Detective Inspector Aytac Necati, Met Police Specialist Crime North team
Met Police Vow to Tackle Violence Against Women
The Met Police say this horrific case underscores their commitment under the New Met for London strategy to crack down on violence against women and girls. They aim to better identify threats and use all legal powers to protect vulnerable victims.
