Then People’s National Party Member of Parliament Jolyan Silvera and his wife Melissa after exchanging vows at their wedding on December 12, 2015, at St Andrew Parish Church.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Defence attorney Peter Champagnie on Friday sought leniency for his client Jolyan Silvera during the former Member of Parliament’s sentence hearing in relation to the shooting death of wife Melissa Silvera.
Chief Justice Bryan Sykes is expected to shortly hand down the sentence against Silvera for manslaughter and using a firearm to commit a felony.
At the pre-sentence hearing now ongoing, Champagnie batted hard for his client during submissions to Sykes for him to consider when deciding on the sentences, and he appealed to the chief judge to exercise leniency.
The king’s counsel appealed to Sykes to consider the good relationship that Silvera has with his children. He also pointed out that the former Member of Parliament has no previous convictions and that two character witnesses, who appeared in court during the sentence hearing, testified that Silvera does not have a streak of violence.
Champagnie asked Sykes to consider that he did an honourable thing by pleading guilty to manslaughter, highlighting that his actions were not premeditated.
Prosecutor Dwayne Green pointed out that Silvera did not admit guilt at the earliest possible time.
He recommended that the Sykes not give him too much discount when it comes to sentencing.