MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A three-year judicial pursuit reached its culmination on Tuesday as the Manchester Circuit Court convicted taxi operator Kevon Lesley for the brutal murder of his partner, Shadae Brown. The verdict, delivered by a seven-member jury after a rigorous two-week trial, brought profound relief to the victim’s family who had endured immense emotional trauma since the March 2023 incident.
Presiding Judge Grace Henry McKenzie oversaw the proceedings that concluded with Lesley’s murder conviction. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 26, with the defendant’s legal representative, Attorney Norman Godfrey, declining commentary pending judicial determination.
The case involved particularly distressing circumstances as Brown’s eleven-year-old son witnessed his mother’s violent death. Court records indicate Lesley employed three separate knives during the sustained attack, ignoring desperate pleas for mercy from both the victim and her young son. Testimony revealed the perpetrator had threatened to stab the child when he attempted to intervene during the assault.
Family matriarch Millicent Laird expressed collective relief outside the courthouse: “We obtained justice today after carrying this heavy burden for three years. Her son can finally live without fear, as this man is permanently removed from our lives.” The grandmother emphasized the psychological impact on the children who were confined with Brown’s body for hours before alerting neighbors.
Previously documented accounts from Brown’s mother, Donna Walker-Ellis, detailed a pattern of domestic abuse preceding the murder. Despite separating from Lesley in January 2023 after a violent incident involving thrown furniture, Brown had permitted his return to their Newport residence two weeks before her death due to her compassionate nature.
Walker-Ellis described her daughter as an exceptionally humble and industrious surgical assistant who maintained employment at a medical facility until her tragic demise. Community members characterized Brown as a jovial, honest individual who embodied kindness in all interactions.
Both families referenced spiritual fortitude throughout the judicial process, with Walker-Ellis noting: “I remained hopeful through sleepless nights because I believe no tears go unnoticed and no sin goes unpunished by the Almighty.” The conviction represents significant symbolic importance for Newport residents who remembered Brown as an exemplary community member whose life ended through unimaginable violence.