Journalists, as well as Jolyan Silvera’s daughter and her mother, were on Thursday barred from the first hearing of the murder case against the former People’s National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament (MP), plunging the high-profile matter into controversy.

The order to exclude the media and Silvera’s family was issued by presiding judge Justice Vinette Graham-Allen, who said, “One has to exercise discretion in each case.”

However, she indicated that at a later date his family and the media will be allowed in to observe the case.

The order appeared to leave Silvera’s family disappointed, as they were heard asking among themselves why the judge didn’t allow at least “one person in”.

Silvera has been charged with murder in relation to the death of his wife Melissa on November 10, 2023.

It was initially reported that she died in her sleep at their Stony Hill, St Andrew, home. However, an autopsy showed that she had several gunshot wounds, and six weeks after her death investigators opened a murder investigation.

Silvera, who had won the St Mary Western seat for the PNP in 2011, was charged last Friday.

“He has been charged with murder alone for now,” deputy commissioner of police in charge of crime Fitz Bailey told the Jamaica Observer shortly after a question-and-answer session in the presence of Silvera’s lawyer.

Reacting to the judge’s order to exclude the media from Thursday’s hearing, readers on the Observer’s Instagram page questioned the decision and scolded the judge.

The comments did not go unnoticed by King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, one of Silvera’s attorneys.

“You have many persons who have sought to try and convict already, and that’s unfortunate. I think it is important that, irrespective of your views, there are young children involved and it is a very, very difficult time for these three children,” Champagnie told journalists outside the court, adding that he was “not barring anyone from their constitutional right of freedom of expression”.

He indicated that he intends to make a bail application for Silvera, but said that a particular document is needed by the defence first.

The 52-year-old Silvera, who is also a land developer, is scheduled to return to court on February 8, when it is expected that this document will be ready.

Champagnie also pointed out that his client is maintaining his innocence.

“He has maintained his position of innocence from day one. I am not saying that he is, because I understand that there is a report to that effect. No lawyer should ever really say that because if you are certain, then you would be a witness,” he said.

Concerning his client’s state of mind, Champagnie said the father of five is “understandably apprehensive, as one would expect”.

Silvera, who chairs the PNP’s Founders Group, exchanged wedding vows with Melissa in December 2015. They shared four sons, however in 2017 the couple suffered the heartbreaking loss of their two-year-old son, Justin, when he drowned in a pool at their home.