OKTIBBEHA COUNTY – A former Tupelo police officer pleaded guilty to manslaughter in circuit court Monday in the 2020 death of his child’s mother.
James Heath Kitchens, 34, was sentenced to seven years’ probation.
Kitchens, who worked for Tupelo Police Department from January 2019 to May 2020, killed Brittany Phillips during a domestic dispute in November 2020. Kitchens tried to leave the scene in his car and Phillips attempted to stop him, running close to a side door, and causing Kitchens’ vehicle to strike her, 16th Circuit District Attorney Scott Colom told The Dispatch.
Colom said there was “no doubt it was an accident” but that “Kitchens could’ve been more careful.”
“He stayed on scene, called 911, was very emotional,” Colom said. “Phillips’ mom in particular was concerned that a jury might not convict Kitchens because of Phillips’ actions, but Mr. Kitchens was willing to take responsibility for it, plead guilty, own up to his part of it. They had a child together that he’s raising, and so her mother also wanted him to be present for that son.”
In a separate case, Sedrick Beckum, 55, also pleaded guilty to manslaughter and firing into an occupied dwelling in the June 11, 2021, fatal shooting of his girlfriend Arshuntay Brown.
Beckum was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Officers responded to the scene when a neighbor saw Beckum performing first aid on Brown in the entryway of their house, Colom said. He was initially arrested and charged with 19 counts of animal abuse for dogs in poor condition on the property, but was out on bond until Dec. 16, 2021, when evidence processing by the State Crime Lab linked him to Brown’s killing.
He was indicted for first-degree murder.
“They’re both tragic events, but very different,” Colom said. “Brown died from a gunshot wound, the evidence was very clear that Beckum shot at her. With Phillips it was more of an accident. The great thing about both of these resolutions is that they’ll help get the families closure.”
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