Michael Abrahams | A crime most heinous

On September 10, it was reported that baby mother of politician and sitting Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell and their 10-month-old daughter were missing. It was alleged that the woman, Toshyna Patterson, told friends she received a phone call from another woman, Leoda Bradshaw, who claimed that the MP was also the father of her child and that the two women had agreed to meet.

On the day of their disappearance, September 9, a cousin of Patterson posted on social media that Toshyna and her infant daughter, Sarayah, had been missing since 7 a.m. She claimed that Toshyna was at home when a vehicle came and picked up her and her child after she had told her mother that Bradshaw was coming there to see the baby and had arrived at her gate.

Ms Bradshaw promptly issued a lengthy statement in which she stridently declared her innocence and refuted the allegations implicating her involvement in the disappearance of the mother and child. She said, “I wish to state categorically that I have absolutely nothing to do with the disappearance of Ms Toshyna Patterson and her baby girl.” In her announcement, she identified herself and claimed to be a federal officer. She stated that she was in a long-term relationship with Paulwell, had a daughter with him, and only learnt about Patterson’s child with him after a woman sent her an email informing her on September 5.

She claimed that she sent a message to Ms Patterson the same day, telling her that she and Paulwell would “ensure that the child is taken care of financially” and that a DNA test would be done to determine if Paulwell was indeed the father. She insisted that that was their only interaction and that she never spoke with her by phone or made any arrangements to meet with her, refuting comments to the contrary on social media, and that she would continue to “pray for the safe return of Ms Patterson and her baby and ask anyone with information to contact the police”.

HOPED AND PRAYED

Meanwhile, the search for the mother and child continued as many Jamaicans hoped and prayed for their safety. On October 6, it was disclosed that four persons, including Bradshaw, who the police named as a prime suspect, had been arrested in relation to the case for kidnapping and conspiracy to murder. The police also reported that they were processing a crime scene they were led to in the Rockfort community, where it was believed the bodies had been taken to and disposed of or where the murders had taken place. They later confirmed that they discovered burnt remains at the location.

On October 13, it was announced that Bradshaw and three men had been charged with murder and other offences concerning the abduction and killing of Patterson and her infant daughter. It was disclosed by the Crown in the Home Circuit Court that Bradshaw came to Jamaica on September 6 and that on the same day, she communicated with her co-accused, Roland Balfour – who is also a cousin of hers – Richard Brown, and Roshane Miller to kidnap and kill Patterson and her child. That same night, the men allegedly scoped out the area where Patterson lived. It is also alleged that on September 7, the men went to the home where Bradshaw was staying to further discus the plot. Then on the morning of September 9, Bradshaw allegedly went to Patterson’s home in Kingston 20, picked her and her baby up and then delivered them to the hitmen in Stony Hill, who forcibly took them to Wareika Hill in St Andrew, where they were shot and their bodies burnt. The three men implicated were reportedly paid the US currency equivalent of J$100,000 initially, with J$400,000 to be paid after the execution of the plan.

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Bradshaw meticulously plotted the murder of Patterson and her child, her daughter’s sister. As the alleged architect of this heinous crime, Bradshaw was indicted on two counts of conspiracy to kidnap, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of capital murder.

In a country plagued by and inured to violence, with one of the highest murder rates in the world, this crime has mesmerised, perplexed, disturbed, and disgusted many. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey, “It is one of the most painful investigations for the team since recent times.”

The photograph initially shared when Ms Patterson and her child went missing is etched on my mind: a mother and her cute, smiling baby. The murders traumatised me as it did many Jamaicans. I keep wondering how, at some point, the accused persons did not look at the baby and reconsider their lethal, nefarious plan. In the vehicle at Ms Patterson’s gate? During the trip to meet the alleged contracted killers? After being handed over to the men? How can you just wipe out a baby and her mother? And as if that is not horrific enough, burn their bodies? According to the prosecution, Bradshaw reportedly learnt of the baby’s existence on September 5, flew to Jamaica the next day, and three days later, had the child and her mother murdered - just like that.

I am not an advocate of capital punishment, but I must be honest and confess that this case has caused that penalty to cross my mind several times since this crime was committed. There is a maxim in justice that states that you are innocent until proven guilty. The case is yet to be tried, but the evidence supporting the involvement of those charged is very strong. In my opinion, no punishment is too severe for those responsible for the orchestration and execution of this horrific crime.

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator and human-rights advocate. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or follow him on X , formerly Twitter, @mikeyabrahams.