A MAN stabbed, cut and slashed his girlfriend and her three family members to death in a “violent and brutal” attack, a court heard.
Samantha Drummonds, 27, her mum Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, gran Dolet Hill, 64, and her partner Denton Burke, 58, were all found dead in the bloodbath.
Central NewsSamantha Drummonds was allegedly stabbed to death along with three family members[/caption]
Central NewsJoshua Jacques is on trial for murder[/caption]
Joshua Jacques, 29, allegedly murdered all four relatives in a drug and alcohol-fuelled attack in Bermondsey, South London, on April 24 last year.
The Old Bailey heard how Denton was found first by police at the foot of the stairs with one or more knives also discovered.
The three women were then found dead in the kitchen with multiple stab wounds.
Tom Little KC, prosecuting, told jurors: “This case involves not one death, not two deaths, and not even three deaths but four violent and brutal deaths at the hands of this defendant.
“In killing four people the prosecution say that the defendant murdered three generations of one family.
“There is no dispute or issue other than that it was the defendant that killed all four of the victims and that he did so by attacking them.
“He did so by stabbing them, cutting them and slashing them.”
Jurors were told they must decide what Jacques’ state of mind was at the time of the “quadruple murder”.
The prosecutor said there is “no dispute” he killed the four victims with “murderous intent”.
Jacques was not “substantially impaired by any psychiatric condition” at the time and was able to form a “rational judgment”.
Mr Little said the deaths were instead the result of “self-induced intoxication, taking drugs and drinking alcohol“.
He added: “This, we say, led to a transient psychotic disorder not meeting the requirements for the defendant to make out a partial defence of diminished responsibility.”
Jacques, from Lewisham, South East London, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder.
The trial continues.
Central NewsDolet Hill and Denton Burke were found dead in the house[/caption]
Central NewsSamantha’s mum Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo was among the bodies found[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
