New conspiracy charges against Beachy Stout and co-accused, prosecution begins closing arguments

The mother of Tonia McDonald wailed and ran out of court in tears today as the prosecution summed up its case in the murder of her daughter as it began closing arguments.

Tonia's husband Portland businessman Everton 'Beachy Stout' McDonald and another man, Oscar Barnes, are being tried in the Home Circuit Court for her death.

In making its closing arguments, the prosecution told the jury that Barnes used a knife to inflict stab wounds to Tonia.

This caused her mother to descend into an emotional state and storm out of the courtroom.

Tonia's sister followed her outside in a bid to console their mother.

The court heard that Tonia's partially burnt body was found on a deserted road in Sherwood Forest in Portland on July 20, 2020.

Tonia, 32, whose throat was also slashed, had nine other knife wounds.

A contract killer, Denvalyn Minott, who is serving 19 years in prison for his role in her murder, had testified that Beachy Stout hired him to kill his wife for $3 million but that he passed on the work to Barnes.

The trial is being presided over by Justice Chester Stamp.

Earlier today, Stamp granted an amendment to the prosecution's indictment regarding conspiracy charges against the accused men.

On February 5, the court freed McDonald and Barnes of conspiracy charges.

A day after they were freed, prosecutors made an application for the indictment to be amended to reflect that McDonald conspired with Minott who then conspired with Barnes to kill Tonia.

- Andre Williams

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