Danielle Rowe
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Attorney Matthew Hyatt, Prime Minister Andrew Holness and retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey
By Racquel Porter
Kayodi Satchell, the woman who abducted and slashed the throat of eight-year-old Danielle Rowe last June, is to be sentenced on November 14.
Satchell pleaded guilty to child stealing and murder when she appeared in the Home Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Clad in white blouse and black and white striped skirt with red floral prints, the 32-year-old woman, who had an intimate relationship with Danielle's father, kept her head down as the prosecutor read the facts.
Satchell abducted Danielle from Braeton Primary School in Portmore, St. Catherine on June 8, while she waited with her younger brother to be picked up by their mother.
About 4:30 p.m. the same day, a motorist saw Satchell, who was walking behind Danielle, exiting a derelict building on a premises located along Roosevelt Avenue near the National Stadium in St. Andrew.
With her throat slashed and blood oozing from her neck, Danielle walked onto the roadway and into the path of a motor vehicle.
She was taken to hospital where she died two days later.
Satchell was arrested at her job on Lady Musgrave Road on August 11, 2023.
She was pointed out in an identification parade on August 25 and charged on August 28.
Prior to setting a sentencing date, one of her attorneys, Pierre Rogers, told the court that he intends to make a plea in mitigation before sentencing, but said he would need time to prepare his submissions.
He also requested Satchell's hospital records.
It was disclosed that she had a miscarriage in 2023.
Attorney Donovan Collins, who also represented Satchell, told Radio Jamaica News following the guilty plea that his client did not waste the court's time.
Meanwhile, attorney Matthew Hyatt, who was observing proceedings on behalf of Danielle's mother, Sudene Mason, said the guilty plea marks the start of closure for the family, who has been having a difficult time coping with the loss of the child.
"It is certainly a heart-breaking moment for [Danielle's mother], as you can expect. Just listening to the prosecution today outlining the allegations was a very rough one. Her voice, you could hear visibly cracked at moments, and this was a matter that brought national attention. And so, Jamaica not only lost a young child, you know, we lost the potential of what could be, and who could have been someone great in society. And so, it is devastating for the family of Danielle Rowe," he lamented.
PM commends investigators
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has commended the police for their investigative work in relation to the murder of the eight-year-old.
"After the tragic killing of Danielle, I had advised the then Commissioner of Police to take all necessary investigative steps to bring the perpetrator to justice. Today, I want to commend the police for conducting a thorough investigation and compiling strong evidence which led to the perpetrator being taken into custody and pleading guilty," he said.
Mr. Holness insisted Jamaica cannot tolerate savagery similar to the act of criminality which claimed Danielle's life.
"My government remains committed to reducing incidents of violent crimes, particularly against our nation's children. This afternoon, on my return from the UN, I was briefed by the Commissioner that murders are down approximately 17.8 per cent year to date," he noted, adding that the authorities "will continue to aggressively pursue further significant reductions in murders".
Meanwhile, retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey, who was in charge of the crime portfolio at the time of the investigation, said the police were convinced that they had the right person in custody following their apprenshion of Satchell.
"It was a very difficult moment even in the process of interviewing her. But I'm really satisfied and it's a win for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, as well as justice has been served," he declared as he commended the investigative team.
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