The man who killed four family members on Bermondsey’s Bonamy Estate is still set to face a murder trial.
Joshua Jacques, 28, had already admitted to the lesser offences of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.
Bermondsey: man arrested on suspicion of murder after four stabbed to death on Bonamy Estate
But at a hearing at the Old Bailey on January 13, the Crown said it would pursue murder charges, pending receipt of an expert’s report.
The trial, if it goes ahead, is set for November 27 this year.
A decision will be made at an earlier hearing on March 2, following the findings of the expert’s report.
At 1.40am on Monday, April 25, police were called to Delaford Road and discovered the victims’ bodies, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene.
They were Samantha Drummonds, 27, her mother Tanysha Drummonds, 45, grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, and Ms Hill’s husband Denton Burke, 68.
The killings of the “fun-loving”, “caring” and “kind” family horrified the “very peaceful, quiet, very settled community”.
Denton Burke’s sister, Juleth Hutchinson, said her brother “was a fun-loving and warm-hearted kind man whose laughter would bring joy to anyone in his presence.”
She said his wife of fifteen years, Dolet Hill, “was a loving mother, grandmother, wife and friend who never turned anyone away and her smile will truly brighten anyone’s day.”
Bermondsey murder: four victims of Bonamy Estate stabbing named
Guy’s Hospital described Ms Hill, a pharmacy assistant at Guy’s Hospital for twenty years, as a woman with impeccable strength” who “always welcomed everyone with an open heart.”
Brandon Estate resident Tanysha Okori-Akuffo “was a doting wife, caring mother and a great friend,” Ms Hutchinson said.
Ms Hutchinson added that her daughter Samantha Drummonds “was an upbeat, fun-loving, bubbly young lady who adored her grandmother Dolet”.