FORMER Opposition People’s National Party Member of Parliament Jolyan Silvera, who is charged with murder in relation to the death of his wife Melissa in November last year, is “anxious to have his day in court”, his attorney Peter Champagnie, King’s Counsel, said Thursday.

“My client is indicating that he is innocent. All of that will be ventilated in court. There is obviously grave concern, he is anxious to be vindicated, he is anxious to have his day in court and he is very concerned and very apprehensive as anyone would be in that particular situation,” Champagnie journalists after Silvera’s second appearance before Supreme Court Judge Justice Vinnette Graham-Allen.

The media and Silvera’s family members remain barred from observing the matter, based on the fact that Silvera was indicted under the Gun Court Act which, by default, means that the public, including the press, are excluded unless they come within the exceptions in the statute.

Champagnie said he was also limited in what he could disclose, based on the ruling of the court.

“We can’t say much because the strictures that were imposed on the last occasion still obtain. I think it is important for persons to recognise that based on the offences for which Mr Silvera is charged, they would fall within the band where there is an in-camera hearing and we have to abide by that ruling, we have to comply with the law. So all that we can say at this point in time is that the matter is fixed for a bail application on the 11th of April,” he stated.

“On that date the court will hear submissions from us as to why it is that Mr Silvera is a good and fit candidate for bail and I would imagine that the prosecution would make a contribution,” Champagnie said further.

He, in the, meantime, appealed for discretion to be exercised by individuals commenting on the matter, given Silvera’s three young children from the marriage.

“This was just a tragic situation on so many levels,” the defence attorney said.

On November 10 last year it was reported that Melissa died peacefully in her sleep at the couple’s Stony Hill, St Andrew, home. The matter, however, morphed into a murder probe after a post-mortem revealed the presence of at least three bullet fragments in her body.

Silvera was subsequently charged with murder and the offence of using a firearm to commit a felony. Silvera, a land developer, has maintained his innocence.

Thursday afternoon Silvera was whisked to and from the precincts of the court by several policemen. The now heavily bearded former politician, who was sporting a black suit and blue dress shirt, was glum and bleary-eyed.