Murder-accused Leoda Bradshaw declines mediation request in assault case, matter postponed

An attempt at mediation in the assault case involving murder accused Leoda Bradshaw and another detainee failed in the St Catherine Parish Court today after Bradshaw, who is the complainant, declined to participate.

In court today, attorney-at-law Fabian Campbell, who represents the accused, Kilfer Gilchrist, requested mediation.

While Gilchrist agreed, Bradshaw was observed shaking her head in the negative to her attorney, Kelly Hamilton, indicating her refusal.

Parish Court Judge Geneta Smikle subsequently postponed the matter and ordered that Bradshaw and Gilchrist be further remanded until March 3.

Allegations are that Bradshaw and Gilchrist were detainees at the Bridgeport police lock-ups in Portmore, St Catherine and that Bradshaw was assaulted by Gilchrist.

An investigation into the incident led to Gilchrist being arrested and charged with assault.

Bradshaw is also before the Home Circuit Court, where she is being accused of being the mastermind behind the killing of 10-month-old Sarayah Paulwell, who was the daughter of People's National Party Member of Parliament, Phillip Paulwell, and the child’s mother, 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson.

Bradshaw, a former US Navy officer, who shares a child with Paulwell, is charged with two counts each of capital murder, conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to kidnapping.

The child and her mother were reportedly abducted from their home on Gilmour Drive in St Andrew on September 9, 2023.

They were allegedly taken to east Kingston, shot and killed, and their bodies burned.

-Rasbert Turner

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