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New Orleans woman accused of helping boyfriend after he set deadly America Street house fire changes plea, attacked in court
Arielle Brumfield
Reporter
New Orleans woman accused of helping boyfriend after he set deadly America Street house fire changes plea, attacked in court
SHAY O’CONNOR WDSU NEWS. SUSPECT ATTACKED IN CRIMINAL COURT. IT CAME AS A NEW ORLEANS WOMAN ADMITTED TO HELPING HER BOYFRIEND SET A HOUSE FIRE, KILLING HIS THREE KIDS INSIDE, AND SHE CHANGED HER PLEA TO GUILTY. WDSU INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER CASSIE SCHERM HAS THE JARRING MOMENTS HAPPENING RIGHT AFTER THE SUSPECT ADMITTED TO HER ROLE IN THIS TRAGIC TRIPLE MURDER. CASSY. WELL, TRAVERS ACTUALLY HAPPENED RIGHT INSIDE THE COURTROOM EARLIER THIS MORNING WHEN OUR CREWS WERE THERE LISTENING TO THE FAMILY DO WITNESS TESTIMONIES. WHEN A WOMAN FROM THE VERY BACK CAME RUSHING IN AND ATTACKED PHILLIPS. NOW PHILLIPS, SHE IS THE GIRLFRIEND. OR WAS THE GIRLFRIEND OF JOSEPH WASHINGTON, WHO WAS RECENTLY CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE CASE. HE ADMITTED TO KILLING HIS THREE CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE FIRE LAST OCTOBER. THE WOMAN WHO RUSHED PHILLIPS IS IDENTIFIED AS ANGEL DANSEREAU. NOW, DANSEREAU SAID IN COURT THAT SHE WAS CLOSE TO THE FAMILY AND THE CHILDREN WHO WERE KILLED, SAYING SHE TOOK THE KIDS TO FOOTBALL PRACTICE AND TO GET THEIR HAIRCUTS. SHE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND HELD IN CONTEMPT OF COURT. NOW A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE TELLS ME MORE DEPUTIES WERE ON STAFF TODAY AND ANTICIPATION OF ANY DISRUPTION. THAT’S BECAUSE JOSEPH WASHINGTON WAS PREVIOUSLY ATTACKED AT ANOTHER HEARING. NOW, SECURITY EXPERT MIKE KAHN SAYS WHERE THE DEPUTIES ARE PLACED IN THE COURTROOM CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE THEM A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO GET TO WHERE THE THREAT IS, OR GET TO WHERE IT’S GOING TO BE. IF SOMEONE JUMPS OUT OF THEIR SEAT INSIDE THE COURTROOM AND TRIES TO ATTACK SOMEONE AT ONE OF THE TABLES. SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE POSITIONED POTENTIALLY AROUND THOSE TABLES AND IN BETWEEN THE TABLES AND THE POTENTIAL THREAT. NOW, OPSO SAYS THAT PHILLIPS WAS NOT PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED. I’VE ASKED FOR MORE CLARIFICATION ON THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME CONFLICTING STORIES I’M HEARING RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM JUST YET. BUT AFTER TODAY’S ALTERCATION, COURT WAS ADJOURNED AND IT’S BEEN PUSHED TO THURSDAY TO RESUME AND WE WILL BE THERE TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ON THIS CASE. REPORTING HE
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New Orleans woman accused of helping boyfriend after he set deadly America Street house fire changes plea, attacked in court
Arielle Brumfield
Reporter
A woman accused of helping her boyfriend after he set a deadly house fire that killed his three children last year entered a new plea in court Monday. Shanyka Phillips withdrew her not guilty plea and then pleaded guilty to two counts of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. She could be seen crying in court.While the family read victim impact statements, a woman entered the courtroom and attacked Phillips. The woman was identified as Angel Dounseroux. Dounseroux said in court that she was close to the family and the children killed, saying she took the kids to football practice and even got them haircuts. She was taken into custody and held in contempt of court, according to a spokesperson for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. OPSO issued the following statement regarding the incident: "Judge Holmes held the below named person in contempt of court. The resident was not physically assaulted. There were two additional deputies on hand for a total of four deputies on duty in the courtroom today in anticipation of any potential disruption. The deputies did an exceptional job as always to address this disturbance and maintain order in the court."The family of the children killed was seen erupting with emotion following the attack on Phillips. The judge warned the family not to fight or speak ahead of the hearing starting. Court was adjourned and the case was continued to Thursday. Phillips will still need to be sentenced following her plea change. Phillips was the girlfriend of Joseph Washington. Washington was recently convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the case. He admitted to killing his three children in the house fire in October 2023.

A woman accused of helping her boyfriend after he set a deadly house fire that killed his three children last year entered a new plea in court Monday.

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Shanyka Phillips withdrew her not guilty plea and then pleaded guilty to two counts of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

She could be seen crying in court.

While the family read victim impact statements, a woman entered the courtroom and attacked Phillips.

The woman was identified as Angel Dounseroux.

Dounseroux said in court that she was close to the family and the children killed, saying she took the kids to football practice and even got them haircuts.

She was taken into custody and held in contempt of court, according to a spokesperson for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.

OPSO issued the following statement regarding the incident:

"Judge Holmes held the below named person in contempt of court. The resident was not physically assaulted. There were two additional deputies on hand for a total of four deputies on duty in the courtroom today in anticipation of any potential disruption. The deputies did an exceptional job as always to address this disturbance and maintain order in the court."

The family of the children killed was seen erupting with emotion following the attack on Phillips.

The judge warned the family not to fight or speak ahead of the hearing starting.

Court was adjourned and the case was continued to Thursday. Phillips will still need to be sentenced following her plea change.

Phillips was the girlfriend of Joseph Washington.

Washington was recently convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the case.

He admitted to killing his three children in the house fire in October 2023.