Article: published on 21 October 2025

Benefits going to offenders in psychiatric hospitals could be stopped after a mother whose daughter was killed by her boyfriend called for "true systematic changes".

Gogoa Lois Tape, 28, was detained by hospital order last month for killing Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, 25, in Hackney, east London, in April 2024.

Kennedi's mother Linda Westcarr and uncle met Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden in Parliament on Monday to lobby for change.

Following the meeting, McFadden said he had asked officials to look into possible changes to the benefits systems for those being detained by hospital order.

Mr McFadden said he wanted to close the loophole that allowed offenders like Tape and Valdo Calocane to claim benefits.

Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic, stabbed two teenagers to death and was given an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Mr McFadden said: "I was very touched to meet Linda and Leon Westcarr, who have shown great bravery and dignity following the terrible loss of Kennedi.

"I have asked officials to come back very quickly on possible changes to the benefits system to stop entitlements for offenders who are detained in psychiatric hospitals."

Ms Westcarr said the meetings were "a step towards being heard".

"But my daughter's killing deserves more than sympathetic words - it demands action," she added.

She also called for Jade's Law to be implemented. This would mean parental responsibility being automatically suspended in cases where an offender has killed a partner or ex-partner with whom they have children.

She said: "True systematic changes, including preventing killers sent to hospitals from receiving benefits, and the implementation of Jade's Law, are needed to ensure victims are prioritised in the justice system."

The government has been asked for a response.

Gogoa Lois Tape, 28, was originally accused of murder after strangling 25-year-old Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche in Hackney, east London, in April last year.

But a guilty plea to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility was accepted by prosecutors.

In September he was detained under the Mental Health Act indefinitely by hospital order that said he was an "undiagnosed schizophrenic" at the time of the attack.

They also met Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, and victims minister Alex Davies-Jones.

She said she was still waiting to meet the prime minister after writing to him more than six weeks ago, and also wanted to meet Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary David Lammy, to make her case.

"I am publicly calling on Sir Keir Starmer, along with the lord chancellor, to meet with me so I can share with them the many failures that have been seen in Kennedi's case.

"I hope that the prime minister and lord chancellor will be able to meet with me and that they can look me in the eye, and to commit to real change so no other family has to endure what mine has."

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