A high-profile double murder case with political ties in Jamaica has hit a critical legal impasse, pushing the matter toward a formal trial after a public disagreement between prosecution and defense teams over how the crime should be classified under national law. The case centers on Leoda Bradshaw, a former United States Navy culinary specialist who has remained in police custody since her arrest in October 2023. Bradshaw faces eight total charges: two counts each of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to kidnapping, kidnapping, and capital murder, in connection with the 2023 abduction and killing of 10-month-old Serayah Paulwell — the infant daughter of Jamaican parliamentarian Phillip Paulwell — and the child’s mother, 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson. Three other co-accused individuals, including Bradshaw’s cousin Roland Balfour, alleged shooter David Smith, and Bjorn Black, have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the crime.
The disagreement erupted during an expedited Supreme Court hearing held Thursday before Chief Justice Bryan Sykes. The case had originally been scheduled for a plea and case management hearing later this month, but the defense requested an earlier hearing to resolve the ongoing classification dispute. Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson, leading the prosecution, confirmed that her office has indicted Bradshaw on charges of capital murder, which falls under Section 2(1)(e)(i) of Jamaica’s Offences Against the Person Act. A recent amendment to this legislation sets a mandatory minimum 50-year prison term for capital murder convictions before a defendant becomes eligible for parole.
Bradshaw’s defense team, however, has offered to have their client plead guilty to non-capital murder, which carries a shorter minimum sentence of 45 years before parole eligibility. Under Jamaican law, non-capital murder is defined under Section 2(2) of the same act. The defense has also formally notified the prosecution of its intention to request a Newton Hearing — a specialized legal procedure used when a defendant enters a guilty plea but disputes the specific facts of the crime as outlined by the prosecution. Since the agreed facts directly impact the final sentencing, a judge alone hears evidence and rules on which version of events is legally accurate.
Lead defense counsel Deborah Martin explained to the court that Bradshaw had prepared a full detailed statement in advance of entering her guilty plea. After prosecutors reviewed the statement, they rejected Bradshaw’s account of events, noting it conflicted with testimony from other witnesses the prosecution plans to rely on during trial. The core disagreement centers on the specific factual details laid out in the indictment for the two murder counts, Martin confirmed, adding that “the defence cannot agree a particular that is in dispute…we do not see how to proceed.”
Chief Justice Sykes noted in his remarks that the Jamaican legislature has explicitly drawn clear distinctions between categories of murder, including those that qualify for the death penalty. He pointed out that the prosecution had not yet moved forward with seeking the death penalty for Bradshaw, a major concession to the defendant. Thompson echoed this point in court, emphasizing that the Crown had deliberately chosen not to serve a Death Penalty Notice on Bradshaw, even though one had already been served on another co-accused in the same case. Thompson called the decision a “huge concession” and argued that the crime fits the legal definition of capital murder perfectly, saying “If there was ever a case that fits what the section intended, this would be it.”
With no resolution reached on the classification dispute, Thompson confirmed that the case would proceed to trial, stating plainly “We are going to trial. We will have a plea and case management date. There will be a trial.” Chief Justice Sykes adjourned the hearing, scheduling the formal plea and case management hearing for June 24, where a final trial timeline will be confirmed. The full trial is currently set to begin on September 28.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Bradshaw observed the discussion quietly, dressed in a belted buttercup gold midi shirt-dress, with short natural curls framing her face. Court documents outline that Patterson and her infant daughter were first reported missing on September 9, 2023. Prosecutors allege the pair were abducted and transported to Warieka Hills in St Andrew, where they were shot to death before their bodies were burned to conceal evidence.