Quadruple murder refutes ‘myth’ that cannabis is safe, judge says

Joshua Jacques had doubled his consumption of cannabis in the weeks leading up to the murders – CENTRAL NEWS/WEBCOLLECT

The case of a marijuana addict who murdered four people in a psychotic frenzy should be taken as a “lesson to all those who peddle the myth that cannabis is not a dangerous drug”, a judge has said.

Joshua Jacques, 29, stabbed to death his girlfriend, Samantha Drummonds, 27, and three of her family members: mother Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, and her husband Denton Burke, 58, in Bermondsey, south-east London, on April 25 2022.

Jacques butchered all four within the space of a single evening following a bout of “self-intoxication” with drugs and alcohol.

Prosecutors, during the trial in December at the Old Bailey, described the scene as a “bloodbath” that would not have looked out of place in a horror film.

Samantha Drummonds was Jacques’ girlfriend – CENTRAL NEWS

Ms Drummonds’ mother, Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo – CENTRAL NEWS

Ms Drummonds’ grandmother, Dolet Hill, with her husband Denton Burke – CENTRAL NEWS

Immediately after the murders, Jacques video-called his mother from a locked bathroom, telling her: “I’m ending it, I’m gonna make a sacrifice.”

Armed police who arrived at the scene were met with the sight of Jacques naked and prostrate on the ground in a praying position, shouting, “Allah, take me”, “Kill me now,” “Get rid of me,” and “God please forgive me”.

On Friday, Justice Bryan handed the killer four life sentences with a minimum of 46 years for the “horrific catalogue of murders inflicted on three generations of the same family”.

‘Psychosis’

The court heard how Jacques had smoked cannabis since the age 12 and had doubled his consumption in the week running up to the killings.

Justice Bryan, in sentencing, said: “The tragedy that played out on 25 April 2022 is a salutary lesson to all those who peddle the myth that cannabis is not a dangerous drug.

“No one is suggesting that [the murders] were religiously motivated. You never intended to make any sacrifices of your victims. This was simply a symptom of your psychosis.

“You were well aware of the risks to your health of smoking skunk cannabis. You had doubled your consumption of cannabis in the weeks leading up to the killings.

“You may have consumed seven grams of cannabis a day immediately before the killing.”

Dr Nigel Blackwood, a forensic psychiatrist for the prosecution, said the symptoms of manic behaviour displayed were caused by the large amount of cannabis Jacques had consumed.

Jacques had been hospitalised in a psychiatric ward in 2018 and diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

He had denied four counts of murder, but jurors convicted him on each charge after a trial last December.

Explaining his decision not to impose a whole-life sentence, Justice Bryan said Jacques was unlikely to pose the same risk to the public in his seventies.

“A very substantial minimum term will amount to a just punishment,” he said.

Previous convictions

The court heard Jacques has 11 convictions for 20 offences, including conspiracy to supply drugs.

Paul Raudnitz KC, defending, claimed there was no “premeditation” before Jacques carried out the murders.

“The critical distinction between this case and those where the court would see fit to say that a whole-life sentence is merited is an absence of premeditation.”

Mr Raudnitz read a note to the court in which Jacques apologised for what he had done.

“I would like to say to the family of the deceased that I am truly and sincerely sorry for all the heartache I have caused them.

“I am disgusted with myself. I cannot believe that I am the cause of this monstrosity.”

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