Key Takeaways
- Linda Westcarr’s daughter, Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, was killed by her controlling boyfriend, Gogoa Lois Tape, in a "heinous act of violence" in April last year.
- Despite Tape’s crimes, he retained parental responsibility, forcing Westcarr to seek permission from him for the child’s day-to-day care while he was in custody.
- Westcarr obtained an interim child arrangements order, making her the initial decision maker for the child, and applied for a prohibited steps order to prevent Tape and his parents from removing the child from her care.
- The local authority, Haringey council, initially criticized Westcarr for acting too quickly in seeking the order, but later provided financial support and a Special Guardianship Support plan.
- Westcarr has urged ministers to implement Jade’s Law, which would restrict the parental rights of a father or mother after they have been sentenced for killing the other parent, without further delay.
Introduction to the Tragic Event
Linda Westcarr was devastated when she learned that her daughter, Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, had been killed by her controlling boyfriend, Gogoa Lois Tape. The incident occurred in April last year, and Westcarr’s world was turned upside down. Tape, who was 29 at the time, strangled Kennedi, 25, in her car after luring her to his home in Hackney, east London. The couple’s one-year-old daughter was sleeping inside the property, and Westcarr feared for her grandchild’s safety. It took hours for the police to return the child to Westcarr, and when they finally did, she was relieved to be reunited with her granddaughter.
The Struggle for Parental Responsibility
Despite Tape’s heinous crime, he retained parental responsibility, which meant that Westcarr had to seek permission from him for the child’s day-to-day care while he was in custody. This was a difficult and frustrating experience for Westcarr, who knew that she had to act quickly to ensure her granddaughter’s safety and well-being. She obtained an interim child arrangements order, making her the initial decision maker for the child, and applied for a prohibited steps order to prevent Tape and his parents from removing the child from her care. However, the local authority, Haringey council, initially criticized Westcarr for acting too quickly in seeking the order.
The Local Authority’s Response
Haringey council claimed that the child being in Westcarr’s care was a "private family arrangement," which contradicted the fact that Westcarr had obtained a court order to care for her granddaughter. The council’s response was disappointing for Westcarr, who felt that they were not taking her granddaughter’s safety and well-being seriously. It was only after Westcarr applied pressure that the council provided financial support and a Special Guardianship Support plan. However, Westcarr remains disappointed that the council "tried to wriggle out of its duties" after her daughter’s death.
The Implementation of Jade’s Law
Westcarr has urged ministers to implement Jade’s Law, which would restrict the parental rights of a father or mother after they have been sentenced for killing the other parent. The law is named after Jade Ward, who was murdered by her former partner Russell Marsh in 2021. Marsh retained parental rights and could request school reports and medical details, despite being jailed for 25 years. Westcarr believes that Jade’s Law would have spared her a second court ordeal and would have protected her granddaughter from further trauma.
The Court Ruling
In October, Westcarr faced Tape in court, where she asked the judge to grant special guardianship over her granddaughter. The judge, David Willans, revoked Tape’s parental responsibility and granted Westcarr’s requests, including changing the child’s surname and adding "Kennedi" as her middle name. The judge also granted a transparency order, which allowed the press to report on the case. Westcarr was elated by the ruling, which she felt would allow her to start rebuilding her life without interruption.
Conclusion and Reflection
Westcarr’s experience has been a difficult and traumatic one, but she remains determined to fight for her granddaughter’s rights and well-being. She believes that her daughter, Kennedi, would be proud of her for challenging Tape and holding the local authority to account. Westcarr’s story highlights the need for greater support and protection for families affected by domestic violence and homicide. It also underscores the importance of implementing Jade’s Law, which would restrict the parental rights of a father or mother after they have been sentenced for killing the other parent. By sharing her story, Westcarr hopes to raise awareness about these important issues and to help other families who may be going through similar experiences.
