Man sentenced to life for killing his 3 kids moves to Appeal Court

John Blanchard, who is currently serving a life sentence for the gruesome killing for his three children, has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge the severity of his sentence.

In 2016, Blanchard appeared before High Court Judge Jo-Ann Barlow charged with the murders but he opted to plea to the lesser count on manslaughter.

Blanchard, 39, confessed that on October 11, 2011, at Dr Charles Sand Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara he killed children – six-year-old Joy, four-year Daniel and 10-year-old Belika Blanchard.

Justice Barlow sentenced Blanchard to life imprisonment and ordered that he will be eligible for parole after serving a period of 30 years in prison.

Blanchard reportedly hacked his three children to death with two knives while they were asleep.

Belika and Daniel died that night, while Joy died a few days later at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Blanchard’s wife was working as a cook in the interior region and on that fatal night in question, the couple were involved in a heated argument over the phone.

He then ended the call then armed himself with two knives and went into the children’s bedroom while they were asleep and stabbed them repeatedly about their bodies.

Blanchard then telephoned his wife and told her what he had done.