Man admits stabbings, killing, signs deal for life prison term
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A Baton Rouge man who admitted in court Monday to stabbing his girlfriend’s two teenage daughters, killing one, signed a plea deal that requires he spend the rest of his life in prison.
Roy Roberts, 52, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the June 3, 2006, stabbing death of Oshiana Godchaux, 16, and stabbing injury of her sister, Heidi, also a teenager at that time. Both girls are the daughters of Roberts’ former girlfriend, Lena Johnson.
Prosecutor Lori Nunn agreed not to seek the death penalty against Roberts in exchange for his guilty pleas.
State District Judge Tony Marabella said the plea agreement prohibits Roberts from ever applying for parole, a commutation of his sentence, or a pardon from a governor. Roberts also agreed to never try to make any money by selling books or doing anything else to profit from the case.
Marabella sentenced Roberts to life in prison on the murder charge and 50 years on the attempted murder charge. First-degree murder carries a sentence of life in prison or death by lethal injection.
Roberts turned to the courtroom audience and apologized to family and friends of the victims, most wearing T-shirts with the girls’ photos.
“I want you all to forgive me,” Roberts said. “I’m having a hard time forgiving myself.”
During the hearing, Nunn gave Marabella a brief description of the stabbings.
Nunn said Johnson and Roberts, who had been dating for a few months, were driving to the home of Roberts’ aunt when Roberts complained about the way Johnson was treating him.
Johnson, whose daughters were in the back seat of the minivan, responded by driving Roberts to his home instead of continuing to the aunt’s house, the prosecutor said. When they reached Roberts’ house, at 4579 Clayton St., the argument escalated and he stabbed the girls in the minivan.
“He was aware his relationship with Johnson was over,” Nunn said.
Roberts said that was “pretty much” what happened. He admitted to fatally stabbing one daughter, but when asked if he also stabbed the other daughter, Roberts replied: “That’s what they tell me.”
Authorities have said that after the stabbings, the women got out of the minivan. Roberts took control of the vehicle and attempted to run over the women before driving off. Roberts was taken into custody minutes later, after he was seen driving near the intersection of Plank Road and Airline Highway.
Roy Roberts, 52, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the June 3, 2006, stabbing death of Oshiana Godchaux, 16, and stabbing injury of her sister, Heidi, also a teenager at that time. Both girls are the daughters of Roberts’ former girlfriend, Lena Johnson.
Prosecutor Lori Nunn agreed not to seek the death penalty against Roberts in exchange for his guilty pleas.
State District Judge Tony Marabella said the plea agreement prohibits Roberts from ever applying for parole, a commutation of his sentence, or a pardon from a governor. Roberts also agreed to never try to make any money by selling books or doing anything else to profit from the case.
Marabella sentenced Roberts to life in prison on the murder charge and 50 years on the attempted murder charge. First-degree murder carries a sentence of life in prison or death by lethal injection.
Roberts turned to the courtroom audience and apologized to family and friends of the victims, most wearing T-shirts with the girls’ photos.
“I want you all to forgive me,” Roberts said. “I’m having a hard time forgiving myself.”
During the hearing, Nunn gave Marabella a brief description of the stabbings.
Nunn said Johnson and Roberts, who had been dating for a few months, were driving to the home of Roberts’ aunt when Roberts complained about the way Johnson was treating him.
Johnson, whose daughters were in the back seat of the minivan, responded by driving Roberts to his home instead of continuing to the aunt’s house, the prosecutor said. When they reached Roberts’ house, at 4579 Clayton St., the argument escalated and he stabbed the girls in the minivan.
“He was aware his relationship with Johnson was over,” Nunn said.
Roberts said that was “pretty much” what happened. He admitted to fatally stabbing one daughter, but when asked if he also stabbed the other daughter, Roberts replied: “That’s what they tell me.”
Authorities have said that after the stabbings, the women got out of the minivan. Roberts took control of the vehicle and attempted to run over the women before driving off. Roberts was taken into custody minutes later, after he was seen driving near the intersection of Plank Road and Airline Highway.
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