Former Tupelo police officer pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter

OCTOBER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Tupelo police officer has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a 26-year-old Starkville mother.

James Heath Kitchens, 30, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, culpable negligence. Legally, this means that the court recognizes that his actions led to the death of another person.

That person was Brittany Phillips.

In November 2020, she was hit by a car on Riviera Road in Starkville.

Phillips later died in hospital.

Kitchens was driving the car that hit Phillips. She was the mother of his child.

Part of his plea deal means no jail time for Kitchens. He received 7 years probation.

Her mother told WCBI that Kitchens should set up a scholarship in Brittany’s name and add $5,000 to the fund each year.

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