Joshua Jacques: Quadruple murderer who went on stabbing rampage jailed for life

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A quadruple murderer who went on a drug-fuelled stabbing rampage in comparison with a “horror movie” by the victims’ household has been jailed for life.

Joshua Jacques, 29, was pushed by medicine and alcohol when he attacked his girlfriend Samantha Drummonds and three of her members of the family in their very own dwelling, leaving a “bloodbath” in his wake.

The risky hashish abuser claimed he killed his victims at their terraced home in Delaford Road, Bermondsey, south London early on 25 April 2022 as a “sacrifice for the greater good”.

The Metropolitan Police discovered the our bodies of Ms Drummonds, 27, her mom Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, often known as Rachquel, and grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, “heaped together” within the kitchen, whereas the physique of Ms Hill’s associate, Denton Burke, 58, was discovered on the foot of the steps.

After being alerted to a disturbance by a neighbour, armed officers additionally found Jacques bare and mendacity within the upstairs toilet in a praying place, screaming “Allah, take me!”, “Kill me now”, “Get rid of me”, and “God please forgive me”.

However, later, at Lewisham Hospital, he mentioned: “I ain’t even in the wrong, I did them for sacrifice”, and in addition warned: “I will do something stupid again.”

In an announcement learn to the courtroom, Tracey-Ann Henry – who is the daughter of Ms Hill, stepdaughter of Mr Burke, sister of Ofori-Akuffo and aunt of Ms Drummonds – described Jacques’ assault on her “incredible” household as “brutal, senseless, savage and barbaric”.

The devastated Ms Henry mentioned: “Sometimes I wonder if it’s real. How can someone kill four people in one night? It’s like something out of a horror movie.”

Julieth Hutchinson, the sister of “beloved” Mr Burke and shut pal of Ms Hill, equally mentioned: “It’s unbelievable what happened – it’s like something from a horror movie.”

Explaining her causes for showing as a witness in the course of the “draining” trial, Ms Henry added: “I wanted the jury to know that not just four people had been murdered, but my whole family had – that whole generation of my family had been taken away.”

Jacques had admitted their manslaughters however denied homicide on the premise that he was mentally unwell on the time.

An Old Bailey jury deliberated for two hours to seek out Jacques, from Minard Road, Lewisham, south-east London, responsible of 4 counts of homicide on 21 December.

Jurors have been informed Jacques had 11 earlier convictions for 20 offences, together with for hashish, being in possession of a silver knuckle duster, and theft.

He first had a psychological well being evaluation in April 2016 after searching for hospital remedy for ingesting water from a rest room.

He was arrested after he threatened to stab and shoot a safety officer, and, whereas in police custody, threw meals round his cell.

He mentioned he had took 3g of skunk hashish a day and refused to think about slicing down, saying he would carry on smoking marijuana “even if it killed” him.

In 2018, he was detained beneath the Mental Health Act after he was seen praying in the midst of a busy street in Brixton, south London, and was in hospital from April 27 to round 7 August of that yr.

Initially on admission, the impression was of drug-induced mania with psychotic options, jurors have been informed.

In February 2020, he was jailed for 51 months for conspiring to deal heroin and crack cocaine, and possessing hashish. He was launched on 11 November 2021.

In probation studies from April 2022, Jacques was described as chatty and engaged.

Three days earlier than the killing, he known as his probation officer to say that he had been supplied a job at a radio station.

Two days later, Ms Drummonds confided in a pal that she believed Jacques was having an “episode” and had been “chatting all night and was fixated on topics”.

Mr Little informed jurors no medical calls have been made earlier than the killings nor was Jacques taken to hospital.

Last April 25, Jacques had visited the home the place Mr Burke and Ms Hill lived solely for the second time.

Ms Ofori-Akuffo, often known as Racquel, typically stayed on the property to care for her mom, who was receiving remedy for most cancers, whereas Ms Drummonds had been residing there as her personal flat was present process renovation, Mr Little informed jurors.

After Jacques launched his assault, Ms Drummonds known as his mom Norma Derrivere however all she was capable of say was “Norma he’s sta… sta… ahhh”.

There have been additionally FaceTime calls between Jacques and his mom that night, and through one, after 2am, he mentioned: “I’m ending it, I’m gonna make a sacrifice.”

Neighbour Alice Canal heard a cat screeching, a male voice swearing, motion, banging and what she believed was somebody falling down stairs, which prompted her to name 999 at round 1.42am.

It was claimed on his behalf that Jacques had exhibited manic signs in keeping with bipolar dysfunction.

He doubled his skunk hashish consumption from his birthday on April 19 2022 – simply days earlier than the killings.

However, that escalation got here weeks after he started having bother sleeping which was a symptom of mania, the defence argued.

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