Silvera to know Thursday whether court will accept manslaughter plea in wife’s death

Jolyan Silvera, a former People's National Party Member of Parliament, will know on Thursday whether Chief Justice Bryan Sykes will accept his guilty plea to manslaughter in the death of his wife.

The matter was before the Gun Court on Tuesday, where submissions were made by both the prosecution and defence.

The Gun Court Act requires that matters be heard in camera, so media were not permitted to cover the proceedings.

Silvera pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Monday, just as his trial was scheduled to begin.

He was charged with the murder of Melissa Silvera in January 2024, after she was found dead in their Stony Hill, St Andrew home on November 10, 2023.

Initially thought to have died from natural causes, an autopsy later revealed that she had sustained gunshot wounds, with three bullet fragments recovered.

Silvera has remained in custody since his arrest.

He is represented by King's Counsel Peter Champagnie and attorney-at-law Patrice Riley.

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