(Jamaica Gleaner) Former People’s National Party Member of Parliament Jolyan Silvera is to serve 20 years and 10 months in prison for the killing of his wife, Melissa Silvera, in 2023.
In handing down sentencing, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes gave Silvera 20 years for manslaughter and 20 years and 10 months for using a firearm to commit an offence.
Both sentences are to run concurrently, so he will serve 20 years and 10 months in prison.
He must serve 13 years before being eligible for parole.
Silvera, who was originally charged with murder, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February.
Among other things, the judge said Silvera committed a deliberate and voluntary act.
Chief Justice Bryan Sykes noted that from the time of his wife’s death, Silvera knew that he was the one who had shot her.
It was also stated in court that it was the couple’s children who discovered their mother’s lifeless body and called their father, who then returned home.
The judge said the businessman “pretended” to be surprised about the death of his wife.
The court also heard that forensic and ballistic testing revealed signs of deliberate action involving his licensed firearm.
Sykes said that when the matter came up in February, Silvera sought to have his own forensic testing done, even though he knew what had happened and that he had shot his wife.
The chief justice said it appeared to him that Silvera was seeking to manoeuvre around the ballistic evidence, which was the anchor of the Crown’s case.
Sykes remarked that it was only after those results were confirmed that Silvera realised he had “no wiggle room”.
“Yes, you would have accepted responsibility, but it seems to me that the acceptance came after, based on the quality of the work of the [local] ballistic expert,” the judge said.
“It suggested an effort to disguise, cover up … and the science put naught to that.”
Melissa Silvera, 42, was found dead at the couple’s Stony Hill, St Andrew home in November 2023.
The case took a dramatic turn after an autopsy in December 2023 revealed she had been shot, prompting a murder investigation and Silvera’s subsequent charge for murder and using a firearm to commit a felony.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February just as his trial was due to start, citing provocation from his wife during an argument.
Chief Justice Bryan Sykes considered factors including the guilty plea, the timing of the admission, and aggravating circumstances in imposing the sentence.
The case has drawn widespread public attention, particularly after relatives and members of the public staged protests calling for a long prison term.
Silvera was represented by King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie and attorney Patrice Riley.