South Hill woman accused of murder claims she was raped through ‘witchcraft’
Oct 29, 2012, 4:20 PM | Updated: 4:58 pm
A South Hill woman accused of stabbing her mother to death claims the crime was justified, according to the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office.
Meshawn West, 39, told detectives her mother “spiritually raped” her.
“She told the detectives that she did this because her mother practiced witchcraft and would molest her, even when they were in different rooms,” said Pierce County prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “A sort-of telepathic molestation. The defendant obviously has some mental health issues.”
According to court documents, West stabbed her mother 10 times in the chest, back and above her left eye.
“I had to stop this and put an end to this,” she told detectives.
Joyce West, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene.
When deputies arrived at the home in the 13000 block of 158th St. Court East on Saturday, they found Meshawn West slumped onto a wall. Prosecutors say she suffered one self-inflicted wound as she carried out the attack.
Lindquist said West attempted to plead guilty to first-degree murder Monday, but her defense attorney changed her plea to “not guilty.”
She was ordered held on $2 million bail.
