Life for Lewisham Man Who Stabbed Girlfriend and Family in ‘Sacrifice’ Slaughter
Joshua Jacques, 29, from Lewisham, has been jailed for life with a minimum of 46 years after a brutal stabbing spree that left his girlfriend and three of her relatives dead. He chillingly claimed the killings were part of a “sacrifice.”
Drugs and Alcohol-Fuelled Knife Rampage in Bermondsey Home
The horror unfolded at Samantha Drummonds’ family home on Delaford Road, Bermondsey. Under the influence of drugs and booze, Jacques launched a savage knife attack on Samantha, 27, her mother Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, and Ms Hill’s partner, Denton Burke, 58.
Neighbours alerted police after hearing the chaos. Officers found Mr Burke’s body at the foot of the stairs and the three women “heaped together” in the kitchen.
Jacques Found Naked, Praying, Uttering Dark Phrases
Armed officers caught Jacques upstairs, naked and praying, crying “Allah, take me!”, “Kill me now,” and “God please forgive me.” While in Lewisham Hospital, he coldly said, “I ain’t even in the wrong, I did them for sacrifice,” and warned, “I will do something stupid again.”
Old Bailey Jury Rejects Insanity Defence, Finds Jacques Guilty of Murder
Jacques admitted manslaughter but denied murder, citing mental illness at the time. After two hours of deliberation, the Old Bailey jury convicted him of four counts of murder.
Sentencing, Mr Justice Bryan described the killings as a “horrific catalogue” linked to Jacques’ heavy skunk cannabis use. The judge slammed cannabis myths, saying: “It is a salutary lesson to all those who peddle the myth that cannabis is not a dangerous drug.”
The judge’s remarks highlight the devastating impact substance abuse can have on mental health and families—sending a stark warning on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
