Update | Woman gets 15 months for assaulting Leoda Bradshaw in lock-up

Kilfer Gilchrist, the woman charged with attacking murder-accused Leoda Bradshaw while the two were at the same police lock-up, today pleaded guilty in the St Catherine Parish Court and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Gilchrist pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm.

A medical certificate was presented in court indicating the extent of the injuries suffered by Bradshaw.

Attorney-at-law Abina Morris pleaded for mitigation on Gilchrist’s behalf.

“Your Honour, on the day in question my client was angry, but she expresses remorse for her actions,” Morris said.

Attorney Deborah Martin, who observed the proceedings on behalf of the complainant, told the court that Gilchrist had constantly abused Bradshaw prior to the incident and attacked her after she decided to report it.

Martin said her client was satisfied that Gilchrist pleaded guilty.

In handing down the sentence, Acting Parish Court Judge Janelle Nelson-Gayle told Gilchrist that she has a propensity for violence and that a custodial sentence was most appropriate.

“You have received a 50 per cent discount for your guilty plea; therefore, you are sentenced to 15 months. To have been in custody and mixed urine and other such ingredients to attack the complainant clearly shows that you are a violent person,” Nelson-Gayle said.

The court heard that about 9:00 p.m. on October 31, 2025, both parties were in custody at the Bridgeport lock-up in Portmore, St Catherine, when Gilchrist attacked Bradshaw and doused her with a substance that caused damage and discomfort to her eyes.

The police were called and the matter was reported.

Gilchrist admitted to dousing Bradshaw with bleach and another substance.

Bradshaw was taken to hospital for medical attention.

Gilchrist was subsequently arrested and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

Bradshaw is before a different court in relation to the 2023 murders of 10-month-old Sarayah Paulwell and her mother, Toshyna Patterson.

Sarayah was the daughter of People’s National Party Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell, who also shares a child with Bradshaw.

Bradshaw is also charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap.

- Rasbert Turner

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.