A New Orleans woman was attacked in a courtroom Monday as she pleaded guilty to her role in a heinous crime that has sparked courtroom chaos more than once.
Shanyka A. Phillips acknowledged in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court that she helped Joseph Washington escape after killing his three children on Oct. 17, 2023, when the children’s mother called 911 alleging Washington was threatening to burn their house down, police said.
She told the dispatcher she heard her children screaming in the background while on the phone with Washington.
By the time police arrived, they said the house was engulfed in flames. Avery Washington, 3, was pronounced dead on the scene while 8-year-old Joseph Jr. and 5-year-old Jayla succumbed to their injuries later at the hospital, police said.
Phillips, with whom Washington had a romantic relationship, allegedly gave him a ride to safety as the cops searched for him. However, Phillips’ lawyer told PEOPLE she had no idea of the crime until after the fire.
Eventually, Washington was caught by U.S. Marshals and arrested. Phillips was charged with two counts of accessory after the fact. Upon entering her guilty plea, a relative to the children let Phillips have all the smoke.
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Passing the nearest deputy, Angel Dounseroux allegedly “made contact” with the defendant, before another deputy restrained her, Casey McGee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office tells PEOPLE.
The courtroom disruption occurred in the midst of a plea and victim impact statement hearing in which Shanyka A. Phillips admitted to helping her boyfriend elude authorities after he set fire to his home, killing his three young children inside.
On Monday, ignoring the judge’s warning against any disturbances, Dounseroux, the children’s aunt, physically attacked Phillips, who was in handcuffs, according to Phillips’ lawyer, Stas Moroz. Judge Kimya M. Holmes held Dounseroux, 28, in contempt of court, per the online docket, and sentenced her to 24 hours in Orleans Parish Prison.
This wasn’t the first time somebody got whooped in relation to this case. When Washington pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice back in April, all hell broke loose in the courtroom.
Moments after the plea was entered, The Times-Picayune reports another woman related to the children ran from the spectating benches and knocked Washington to the floor, throwing punches. Following that, more relatives emerged and jumped on him.
Washington is currently spending the rest of his life in prison. Phillips will be sentenced Thursday, Aug. 14.