Trial date for Leoda Bradshaw and co-accused to be set in January 2026

Former U.S. Navy culinary specialist Leoda Bradshaw and her three co-accused, charged in connection with the gruesome murders of 10-month-old Sarayah Paulwell and her mother Toshyna Patterson, are expected to learn their official trial date by January 26, 2026.

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The four have been in custody for more than two years following the 2023 killings, which sent shockwaves across Jamaica due to their brutality and the alleged motive linking the crime to parliamentarian Phillip Paulwell, the child’s father.

Bradshaw is charged with two counts each of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to kidnapping, kidnapping, and capital murder, alongside Roland Balfour, her cousin; David Smith, the alleged gunman; and Bjorn Black.

Balfour faces accessory before the fact charges related to kidnapping and murder, while Black will be tried on two counts each of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to murder, and conspiracy to kidnapping, as well as firearms offences. Smith faces similar capital murder and conspiracy charges.

During Wednesday’s case management hearing, Supreme Court Judge Vinnette Graham-Allen confirmed that the indictment has been completed and served on the defence. She indicated that when the matter returns to court on January 26, it will be the first on the docket.

A tentative trial period from September 28 to November 23, 2026 has been proposed, though final confirmation will depend on discussions between the prosecution and defence on whether the case will be tried by judge alone or by jury.

“Mr Investigator, please tell the witnesses what is going on so they can block out these dates,” Justice Graham-Allen instructed, before ordering that the accused remain remanded until January 26.

The allegations

Prosecutors allege that Bradshaw learned of Paulwell’s child on September 5, 2023, and flew to Jamaica the following day “with the sole purpose of killing” Patterson and baby Sarayah.

According to the Crown, Bradshaw contacted Patterson via Facebook, claiming to be Paulwell’s wife and demanding a DNA test to confirm the child’s paternity. Patterson reportedly blocked her on social media soon after, but prosecutors say Bradshaw nevertheless conspired with Balfour to hire men to kidnap and kill the mother and child.

Patterson and her daughter were reported missing on September 9, 2023. Investigators later determined they were abducted and taken to Warieka Hills in St. Andrew, where they were shot, killed, and their bodies burned.

Bradshaw was arrested on October 5, 2023, and later identified by police as the prime suspect in the double murder.

Two other men, Richard “Richie” Brown and Roshane Miller, have since pleaded guilty under plea agreements with prosecutors. Brown was sentenced to 20 years before parole eligibility, while Miller received a seven-year, 10-month sentence.

The high-profile case will return to court in January 2026, when a final trial date and mode of trial are expected to be confirmed.