Leoda Bradshaw may face trial after plea discussions collapse in Paulwell murder case

Leoda Bradshaw could face trial for the alleged murder of parliamentarian Phillip Paulwell's 10-month-old daughter, Serayah Paulwell, and the child's mother, 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson, after plea discussions collapsed in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The breakdown in negotiations clears the way for the high-profile case to proceed through the courts. A plea and case management hearing has been scheduled for June 24, when a trial date could be set.

Earlier Thursday, Bradshaw's attorneys indicated that she was prepared to plead guilty under Section 2(2) of the Offences Against the Person Act, which deals with non-capital murder. However, the prosecution and defence were unable to reach an agreement on the factual basis of the plea.

Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson told the court that while Bradshaw was willing to plead guilty, she sought to do so based on her own version of events. The parties were unable to reconcile their differences, preventing the matter from proceeding.

Bradshaw's attorney, Deborah Martin, said significant differences remained between the defence's position and that of the Crown.

"As such, we were unable to reach the threshold necessary to proceed with the Newton hearing," Martin told the court.

A Newton hearing is a special court proceeding used to determine the factual basis of a guilty plea when the prosecution and defence disagree on the circumstances surrounding an offence.

Under Section 2(2) of the Offences Against the Person Act, murder that does not meet the legal definition of capital murder is classified as non-capital murder. A conviction carries a sentence of life imprisonment or a specified term of imprisonment, with a minimum of 15 years to be served before eligibility for parole.

Bradshaw, a former United States Navy culinary specialist, is charged with two counts each of capital murder, conspiracy to murder, kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap. She is jointly charged with her cousin Roland Balfour, alleged triggerman David Smith and Bjorn Black.

Patterson and her daughter were reported missing on September 9, 2023.

Prosecutors allege that the mother and child were abducted from their home on Gilmour Drive in St Andrew and taken to Warieka Hills, where they were shot and killed before their bodies were burned.

Investigators contend that Bradshaw, who shares a child with Paulwell, travelled to Jamaica and orchestrated the plot, allegedly recruiting individuals to carry out the abduction and killings.

The case has drawn widespread public attention since the disappearance and deaths of Patterson and her infant daughter.

Several of Bradshaw's co-accused have already pleaded guilty and are serving their sentences. Two men, Richard Brown and Roshane Miller, previously admitted to offences arising from the case and were sentenced by the court.