NEW ORLEANS — Jinnylynn Griffin walked out of criminal district court in New Orleans Monday morning with a sense of relief.
“I felt relief because that’s what we’ve been after this whole time for justice,” said Griffin.
That long-awaited justice is for Griffin’s 73-year-old sister Linda Frickey who was violently carjacked and dragged to her death back in March of 2022 in Mid-City.
Monday, Briniyah Baker, 17, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar’qel Curtis pleaded guilty to attempted manslaughter and were sentenced to 20 years.
“What I do feel for them is sadness,” said Griffin. “They probably did not want to do what they did, as to go as far as the murder, but they still were trying to steal a car. That’s still a felony.”
In court, the three girls apologized to Frickey’s family and asked for forgiveness.
“I think they really were sincere in their apology, and we appreciate that they did admit their guilt and accept their punishment and hopefully as time goes on, everyone can heal,” said Frickey’s sister-in-law Kathy Richard.
Healing hasn’t been easy and the details of what happened that day will still play out in court as John Honore, 18, the fourth defendant, goes to trial.
“We want him to get the maximum. He drove the car. He stomped on her,” said Griffin. “The girls, they were all there for the ride, but the issue we had with them is they didn’t do anything to stop it.”
“John Honore deserves no mercy,” said Richard. “We’ll give him the same mercy he gave Linda. None.”
Frickey’s family hopes the three girls who’ve now pleaded guilty will use their time to reflect.
“I don’t think they really realized the impact of their actions and hopefully while they’re in jail, incarcerated, they do get involved in programs to maybe help the next generation to speak out and be an example that there are consequences for your actions,” said Richard.
The three teens who pleaded guilty were originally charged as adults with second degree murder and faced life in prison. That charge still stands for John Honore as he goes to trial. A jury was seated Monday afternoon. Trial begins next week.
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