A sixth person, described as a prime suspect, has been arrested in the September 2023 murders of Jamaican lawmaker Phillip Paulwell’s 10-month-old daughter Sarayah and her mother, Toshyna Patterson.
The male suspect was picked up by police in Kingston sometime last week.
The suspect will be subject to an identification parade. His identity has not yet been released to the public.
New developments in case
This development follows last Wednesday’s update that a fifth person, Bjon Black, was charged in the kidnapping and murder case.
Several charges were laid against Bjon Black, according to a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Black was officially charged on January 12 with the kidnapping and murder of Toshyna Patterson and Sarayah Paulwell, following gun charges that were laid against him in December. He appeared before the Home Circuit Court on January 17 to answer to the kidnapping and murder charges. The charges are as follows:
• Conspiracy to Kidnap Toshyna Patterson on diverse days between the 6th and 9th day of September 2023.
• Conspiracy to Kidnap Sarayah Paulwell on diverse days between the 6th and 9th day of September 2023.
• Conspiracy to Murder Toshyna Patterson on diverse days between the 6th and 9th day of September 2023.
• Conspiracy to Murder Sarayah Paulwell on diverse days between the 6th and 9th day of September 2023.
• Kidnapping of Toshyna Patterson on the 9th day of September 2023.
• Kidnapping of Sarayah Paulwell on the 9th day of September 2023.
• Murder of Toshyna Patterson on the 9th day of September 2023.
• Murder of Sarayah Paulwell on the 9th day of September 2023.
In a separate case, Black has also been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorized possession of ammunition, and dealing in prohibited weapons.
He will make two court appearances in February to answer to both sets of charges.
Others accused
Black joins Richard Brown, who pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder and was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment; and Roshane Miller, who also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and accessory before the fact to murder and was sentenced to seven years and 10 months imprisonment.
The mastermind behind the crime, Leoda Bradshaw (a former partner of Phillip Paulwell) was also charged with capital murder and conspiracy to Kidnap.
Her co-accused Roland Balfour was charged with accessory before the fact to kidnapping and accessory before the fact to murder.
Both Bradshaw and Balfour are due back before the Home Circuit Court in March.
