Paulwell baby murder case: Bradshaw set for September trial after guilty plea talks collapse

Leoda Bradshaw, the alleged mastermind in the murder of politician Phillip Paulwell’s 10-month-old daughter Sarayah, and her mother, is to stand trial on September 28, after efforts to resolve the case through a guilty plea collapsed today. 

Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson said Bradshaw had indicated a willingness to plead guilty, but only on her own version of the facts, leading to the scheduling of a Newton hearing to determine the agreed factual basis for the plea. 

However, the hearing did not proceed in the Home Circuit Court. 

A Newton hearing is held by a judge when the prosecution and defence cannot agree on the factual circumstances surrounding a guilty plea.

Bradshaw’s lead attorney, Deborah Martin, said the defence and prosecution were unable to reconcile key aspects of the case.

“As such, we were unable to reach the threshold necessary to proceed with the Newton hearing,” Martin said.

Bradshaw, who shares a child with Paulwell, was subsequently remanded in custody.

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, who presided over today's proceedings, set a plea and case management hearing June 24. 

She is jointly charged with Roland Balfour, alleged triggerman David Smith, and Bjorn Black in connection with the killings. 

Bradshaw, a former United States Navy petty officer, is charged two counts each of capital murder, conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to kidnap.

Balfour, who is Bradshaw’s cousin, is charged with two counts each of accessory before the fact to murder and kidnapping, while Black faces two counts each of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to murder, and conspiracy to kidnap, as well as firearms-related offences. Smith is charged with two counts each of capital murder, conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to kidnap.

Prosecutors allege that the 10-month-old child and her 27-year-old mother Toshyna Patterson were abducted from their St Andrew home on September 9, 2023, taken to east Kingston, and later shot and burned.

Two other men, Richard Brown and Roshane Miller, have already pleaded guilty to related offences and have been sentenced.

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