Updated: Ann Arbor man pleads guilty to strangling his live-in girlfriend
7 Comments. Comment Now
An Ann Arbor man who strangled his girlfriend after she tried to kick him out of her house pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Wednesday.
Kwame Burrell, 31, made a brief afternoon appearance in Washtenaw County Circuit Court to enter the plea agreement with prosecutors. Open murder charges will be dismissed at sentencing Dec. 2, court officials said.
Kwame Burrell
File photo
He also entered into a sentencing agreement with Judge Archie Brown, but further details weren't disclosed in court records.
Burrell was accused of strangling Kisha French, 30, near the doorway of her home in the 100 block of Allen Street on Jan. 27. Her body was discovered after she didn’t pick up her daughter from elementary school.
Police quickly developed Burrell as the prime suspect and arrested him two days later, hiding in the home of a relative’s girlfriend in Ypsilanti Township.
Burrell initially told investigators he assaulted French during an argument, but denied killing her. They later learned Burrell had been living with French for several weeks and she tried to kick him out before she was killed.
During a preliminary hearing in May, Burrell’s brother testified that Burrell confessed to him that he killed French.
Lakeia French, Kisha’s cousin, said she and other family members in attendance Wednesday didn't expect a plea deal to be reached and felt vindicated upon hearing Burrell's public admission. She said Burrell whispered twice that he strangled French until prosecutors demanded he speak up.Kisha French and her daughter Jayla, who is now 7. Photo courtesy of Lakeia French.
“It was such a relief for us because we were pretty sure it was always him, but because we weren’t there it was important to hear it in his words,” she said. “We’re glad his conscience allowed him to admit it.”
Lakeia French said Kisha’s daughter Jayla, now 7, is living with Kisha’s mother and adjusting well with supportive family, teachers and counselors.
“Kisha has a large family and we’re all trying to squeeze in these large shoes she left behind for Jayla, but it’s just so hard because of the kind of mother she was.”
French is among 16 women who have been killed by their intimate partners in Washtenaw County since 1998, according to officials with SafeHouse, which provides services to local victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Prison records show Burrell served five years of a maximum 14-year sentence on fraud convictions in before his release in 2007.
Glenn Cotton, Burrell’s attorney, did not return calls Wednesday.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Get the Ann Arbor RSS Feed
I met Keisha & her daughter a few years ago through her family that happened to be my neighbors. When I learned of Keisha's death last January it happened to be a week after I celebrated my son's 4th birthday with one of her cousins and their son's who had turned 9 the same day. Keisha & her daughter were at the birthday party too. In fact, we ended up going back to my house to play cards. Us girls got together often to laugh and play cards along with letting our kids visit with each other. I was devistated to hear of her death on the birthday of one of her aunts. Again, there were plans of getting together not knowing she'd gone to be with the Lord. Im angry with Kwame for taking a really great person out of my life. Those who knew Keisha knew she was a breath of fresh air and that she didn't deserve to die in the way that he killed her. Keisha was the type of person who'd give you her last and make sure you knew that she was indeed a friend. I miss her dearly. Kirk Street will never be the same (this is where her family often gathered. Keisha we love and miss you. R.I.P
kb
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 22 2009
This is so sad. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
:(
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 22 2009
live-in girlfriend? If it was her house, wouldn't that make him a live-in boyfriend? I've never heard the phrase used on the actual property owner or lease holder in a relationship.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 22 2009
The French family would like to thank the community for their support during this difficult ordeal. We hope that Kisha's death will be a lesson to those who may be going through domestic violence in their relationships. Please seek help. Kisha was dear to our hearts, and she will forever be missed, for she was truly "one of a kind."
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 22 2009
This isn't the same Ms. French, is it? http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2009/10/HalloweenFamilyFun-thumb-537x441-10983.jpg
My heart goes out to her family.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 22 2009
No Haggood, this is not.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 22 2009
Mr. Haggood: The picture you referenced is not a picture of Keisha French. The woman in the picture does have a similar name, but the similarity is a coincidence.
AnnArbor.com Staff
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 22 2009