KINGSTON, Jamaica – US Navy Petty Officer Leoda Bradshaw and her co-accused had their bail applications denied when they appeared before the Supreme Court on Friday. Bradshaw, along with three others, is facing charges related to the abduction and killing of 10-month-old Sarayah Paulwell, the daughter of Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell, and her mother, Toshyna Patterson.
Leoda Bradshaw, who shares a child with Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell, has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of conspiracy to kidnap, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of murder. Along with Bradshaw, two of her co-accused, Roland Balfour and David Smith, were also denied bail. The third co-accused, Bjorn Black, appeared remotely at the hearing, and no bail application was made for him.
As a result of the court’s decision, Bradshaw and her cousin Balfour will spend a second consecutive Christmas behind bars while they await trial. The charges relate to the abduction and murder of 10-month-old Sarayah Paulwell and her mother, Toshyna Patterson.
On September 9, 2023, 10-month-old Sarayah Paulwell and her mother, Toshyna Patterson, were abducted from their home on Gilmore Drive in St. Andrew. They were transported to east Kingston, where they were fatally shot and their bodies burned.
During a part-heard bail application on Friday, Leoda Bradshaw, a US Navy culinary specialist, appeared in court wearing a black dress, with her face covered by a mask and sunglasses. She stood stoically in the prisoner’s dock alongside her co-accused, Roland Balfour and David Smith.
In her ruling, Judge Justice Tara Carr denied the bail applications, citing section 6(2)(b)(i) of the Bail Act, which requires the judge to consider whether the accused is likely to surrender to custody, interfere with witnesses, or obstruct the course of justice. Carr noted the seriousness of the charges, highlighting the use of a firearm, which was allegedly a prohibited weapon, as well as the fact that the murder was a “murder for hire.” She also pointed to the strength of the evidence against the accused in her decision.
As a result, Bradshaw and Balfour will spend a second consecutive Christmas in custody, awaiting further proceedings in the case.
In her decision to deny bail, Justice Tara Carr provided a detailed breakdown, starting with Leoda Bradshaw. Justice Carr emphasized that Bradshaw posed a flight risk, as she is a U.S. citizen with no significant ties to Jamaica. She pointed out that both of Bradshaw’s parents are deceased, and her brothers live in the United States, further highlighting the lack of local connections.
Bradshaw’s lawyer, Deborah Martin, had cited Bradshaw’s daughter as a reason for her to remain in Jamaica. However, Justice Carr dismissed this argument, stating that the child is also a U.S. citizen and is only in Jamaica because her mother is currently in custody.
Additionally, Justice Carr referenced statements from witnesses, suggesting that Bradshaw has the necessary resources and connections in the United States, which could enable her to evade custody if granted bail. Based on these factors, Justice Carr concluded that Bradshaw would not likely surrender to custody if released on bail.
A plea and case management hearing is set for April 3, 2025, when all the accused will attend remotely.
