23-year-old Rushane Barnett, the man charged with the brutal slaying of a mother and her four children in Coco Peace, Clarendon pleaded guilty to five counts of murder in the home circuit court. Barnett was convicted of the massacre after the bodies of his cousin Kemesha Wright and her children, 15-year-old Kimanda Smith, 12-year-old Sharalee Smith, 5-year-old Rafaella Smith, and 23-month-old Kishawn Henry Jr. were discovered by residents, at what was a horrific scene.
Upon his confession, Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Jeremy Taylor noted the likely possibility of the death penalty being taken off the table. He explains that in instances of the admission of guilt, the automatic benefit is that- if the court finds Barnett to be remorseful, redeemable, or can be rehabilitated into society, then he will not be given the death penalty.
However, this will not be decided until his sentencing hearing. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrea Martin Swaby says Barnett’s psychiatric evaluation was completed and its conclusion presented to the court. Judge Justice Leighton Pusey says the result of the evaluation will not be reducing Barnett’s sentencing, as the evaluation deemed him mentally well enough to have committed the act with a sound mind, and thus his guilty plea has been accepted.
Barnett’s attorney Tameka Harris has indicated that she wants to have further dialogue with the psychologist who assessed Barnett. The court was presented with the sequence of events, that led to the gruesome murders. A few days before the quintuple murder, Barnett collected a customer’s payment at the family’s shop. Kemiesha grabbed the money from him and splashed water on him. Barnett says he felt disrespected by her actions, and later sharpened his knife and made a call, stating his plans to kill “someone tonight”. Subsequent to that interaction, a confrontation ensued between the two at Kemeisha’s dwelling, which led to him stabbing her.
When the children tried to intervene, he directed his anger toward them, inflicting stab wounds and slashing their throats. Swaby says because of the sensitivity of the matter, she is recommending the witness testimonies be heard in court.
Justice Pusey replied the court wishes to have everyone affected by the matter, have their voices heard. Barnett is scheduled to return to court on September 22. Watch the report:
Reporter: Nasika Alliman.
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