Christopher Bradley Appeals Life Sentence in 2018 Pomona Murder Case

Christopher Bradley, 25, appeals his conviction of a life sentence without the possibility of parole until after 28 years. Attorney for Bradley, Lynden Jones, submitted 3 grounds for appeal in his defence – the first two grounds were against his murder conviction. 

Jones indicated that the judge should never have accepted the chain (Martha’s) found on Bradly’s girlfriend and the blood sample found at Bradley’s house into evidence. Jones added that the chain was never presented in trial as an exhibit because the chain could not have been found, nor was there any photograph of the chain in Police’s custody. Ground three was against the life sentence. Jones said his client should have gotten a lesser sentence because there were other mitigating factors; however, his client got an unjust life sentence. 

Christopher Bradley’s case stems from the robbery and gruesome murder of Martha Gonzales in the community of Pomona, Stann Creek District. Police investigation revealed that she was seen alive on November 23, 2018. When her children realized she was missing, they filed a missing person’s report with the police on November 25, 2018. After the report was made, a search discovery her decomposing body, wrapped in a grey tarp hidden in a latrine on Bradley’s premises. Upon further investigation, Gonzales’ yellow bucket in which she sold tamales was also found on his premises, along with her gold chain, which was identified by her daughter.  A post-mortem revealed that Gonzales died from a single stab wound to the chest. 

Bradley was 21 when he was convicted back in 2021 for the murder of Gonzales and was later sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022. Yesterday’s Court of Appeals was presided over by Madam President, Minnet Hafiz-Bertram; Madam, Sandra Minott-Phillips, KC, and Madam, Melissa Balderamos-Mahler, SC.