HACKNEY CHILD KILLER ROLAND MCKOY SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR BRUTAL MURDERS

In a chilling case that shocked the community of Hackney, East London, Roland McKoy was convicted of the horrific murders of his ex-partner Valerie Forde and their 22-month-old daughter, Real Jahzara. The incident unfolded on March 31, 2014, when McKoy launched a savage attack on Valerie as she prepared to leave their shared home, leaving a trail of destruction and devastation in its wake.

McKoy, a 54-year-old handyman originally from Jamaica, inflicted grievous injuries on Valerie Forde using a hammer, a machete, and a screwdriver. The attack was described as sustained and brutal, with Mrs. Forde suffering 33 separate blows to her head and body. The violence was so severe that family members and friends in the courtroom at the Old Bailey expressed their grief openly, some weeping as victim impact statements were read aloud. One of Mrs. Forde’s daughters, Carrise, aged 28, who had overheard the horrific events via a phone call, described their ordeal as a living nightmare, emphasizing that the pain and loss would never heal.

Following the attack on Valerie, McKoy turned his violence towards his young daughter, Jahzara. He used the same machete to slash her tiny neck from one side to the other, resulting in her tragic death. The judge described the attack as a deliberate act driven by McKoy’s 'spite and resentment' over being asked to leave the family home in Hackney. The court heard that McKoy’s actions caused profound grief and distress to the family and the wider community, with the impact resonating deeply within the close-knit Hackney neighborhood.

After the murders, McKoy’s actions took a disturbing turn. He consumed bleach and left a bizarre, blood-stained note on Valerie Forde’s face, which was also smeared with Jahzara’s blood. The note contained a rambling message blaming Valerie for the chaos and destruction that had unfolded, stating: 'Valerie Forde you never stop playing derty ticks for many years on all people places and things you targets. Now the world must see the sudden destru..tions you creates in our families, our home and on yourself. Our fame in history. Roland.'

During the trial, McKoy maintained a bizarre and false narrative, claiming that Valerie Forde was 'jealous' of his relationship with Jahzara and that she had killed her own child while in a 'demonic trance.' He insisted that he acted in self-defense after finding Jahzara dead on the landing and confronting Valerie in the bathroom, claiming he hit her with a hammer in a moment of uncontrollable rage. However, prosecutor Ed Brown QC dismissed these claims as fabrications, emphasizing that the evidence clearly showed McKoy attacked Valerie with a hammer, slashed her with a machete, and stabbed her multiple times with a screwdriver. The court was also told that Carrise, who was on an open phone line during the attack, listened in horror as her mother and sister were assaulted.

Police responded swiftly after Carrise called emergency services. When officers arrived at the house in Oswald’s Meade, they found Valerie Forde and Jahzara dead, with McKoy curled up in a fetal position nearby, surrounded by the weapons used in the attack. He was visibly sick, with his vomit smelling of bleach. The investigation revealed that McKoy had a history of threats against his family, including a warning sent via text message from Valerie Forde in January 2014, expressing fears for her safety. The following month, she reported him to the police after he threatened to burn down their home with everyone inside.

Throughout the trial, emotions ran high, with members of Mrs. Forde’s family visibly distressed. The jury took just two and a half hours to reach a verdict, finding McKoy guilty of both murders. Judge Charles Wide sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years, noting that McKoy had shown no remorse for his actions. The judge described the murders as 'deliberate and horrific,' emphasizing the profound loss inflicted upon the family and community of Hackney.

Following the sentencing, the family expressed their grief, stating, 'No matter how many years he receives, it will not bring Valerie and Jahzara back. The pain will still continue for our family for the rest of our lives.' They also condemned McKoy’s actions for destroying the lives of Valerie and Jahzara’s loved ones and the wider Hackney community. Detective Chief Inspector Charles King highlighted the tragic risk women face during separation from violent partners, warning that such extreme violence is a stark reality. The case has also prompted an investigation into police conduct, with the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards referring the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is nearing completion of its inquiry into allegations of misconduct involving several officers and staff members.