September 22 sentencing for Rushane Barnett

 

It will be known on September 22 whether Rushane Barnett, who pleaded guilty today to killing his cousin and her four children last month, will receive the death penalty.

 

Moments after he pleaded guilty to five counts of murder in the Home Circuit Court on Thursday afternoon, prosecutor Andrea Martin-Swaby told presiding judge Justice Leighton Pusey that Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn will accept his guilty plea.

 

However, it will be up to Justice Pusey to make the final decision.

 

The post mortem report read in court on Thursday revealed that 31-year-old Kemesha Wright her children— 15-year-old Kimanda Smith, 12-year-old Sharalee Smith, 5-year-old Rafaella Smith and 23-month-old Kishawn Henry—were stabbed multiple times and their throats slashed at their home in Cocoa Piece, Clarendon on June 21.

 

The prosecutor told the court that Barnett stated that his cousin, with whom he lived, disrespected him days before the murders.

 

Barnett reportedly said his cousin became upset after he served a customer who came to her shop at the premises.

 

He said she told him not to serve her customers, grabbed the cash from his hand and splashed water in his face.

 

After that incident, he said not only did Miss Wright's attitude towards him change, but her children also distanced themselves from him.

 

The man recalled that on the night of the attack, June 20, his cousin told him to lock up the house.

 

He said Miss Wright looked at him as if she saw that he was intent on harming her.

 

Barnett said she tried to retrieve something from a chest of drawers and he began stabbing her with his knife. 

 

Two of her children reportedly saw what happened and tried to defend Miss Wright.

 

Barnett then attacked them, their older sister and the baby.