Former Jamaican Member of Parliament Jolyan Silvera has been arrested as a suspect in the murder of his wife Melissa, who died late last year.
Jolyan, a former MP for Western St. Mary who represented the People’s National Party, was picked up by detectives assigned to the Major Investigation Division (MID) on Thursday.
It was previously reported that 42-year-old Melissa died in her sleep on November 10, 2023, at the couple’s residence. But the police later upgraded their probe to a murder investigation after her post-mortem examination revealed she was shot at least three times.
The development fueled rumors of a cover-up by authorities, which led to the case being transferred to the MID.
Head of the police’s crime and security portfolio, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Fitz Bailey, on Thursday, confirmed that the probe has now brought forth sufficient evidence for Jolyan to be brought in as a suspect.
“Several lines of inquiry were drawn during the investigative process, and having satisfied ourselves that there is sufficient evidence to mount a viable prosecution, as a consequence … Jolyan Silvera, the husband of the deceased, has been taken into custody as a suspect in this case,” he said.
Police had questioned Silvera on two previous occasions as part of the probe. At that time, Silvera’s attorney Peter Champagnie said his client was not being treated as a suspect.
Melissa remembered as a valuable member of the PNP
On January 12, Melissa was laid to rest at the St Andrew Parish Church, the same place that she had wed Jolyan in 2015.
Though she was never an official representative, Melissa was remembered as a valuable member of the PNP. Her husband won his seat in the 2011 election. He served as MP for one term.
During Melissa’s funeral, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, P.J. Patterson, described her as his niece in his written tribute, expressing the lingering struggles of coming to terms with her death.
“For obviously compelling reasons and my own feelings of incalculable loss, this tribute ranks among the most difficult to write; so much has to be left unsaid,” he said.
He praised Melissa’s ambition and shared dreams of national development.
Leader of the PNP Mark Golding, in his written tribute, said Melissa was a valued member of the political party and whose family has contributed much. Golding committed his party’s support to the well-being of her three sons.
“Although no one can replace a mother to her children, I give the assurance that our party will stand by them as they grow, doing as much as our capacity allows,” he said.
