JAMAICA’S chief prosecutor has commended the jurors and her staff for their dedication to duty in the just-concluded murder trial of Portland businessman Everton “Beachy Stout” McDonald and Oscar Barnes, which resulted in both men being convicted.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Sophia Rowe and Crown Counsel Luke Cook presented the State’s case against the two men, who where represented by a total of seven attorneys, to seven jurors over six months.

Last Wednesday the jury found McDonald and Barnes guilty of the July 20, 2020 murder of McDonald’s second wife Tonia, bringing to an end what Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn described as a complex case.

“I heartily commend my team,” Llewellyn said, pointing out that four of the seven-member defence counsel are senior to her two prosecutors at the bar.

“The case was complex — a lot a legal issues, a lot of submissions — and they also had to be very good, both the police and prosecution, in terms of witness care,” Llewellyn told the
Jamaica Observer, making specific reference to one of McDonald’s former employees and Denvalyn “Bubbla” Minott who is serving a 19-year prison sentence for his role in the murder. Both men took plea deals with the prosecution and became Crown witnesses.

Minott had confessed to being contracted by McDonald for $3 million to commit the murder, but instead subcontracted the killing to Barnes.

McDonald’s former employee, who had knowledge of the murder, received a suspended sentence.

“When you’re dealing with cases where the bulk of your credible evidence is coming from persons who have pleaded guilty to any offence, and they have agreed with the prosecution to give evidence against the accused or to assist the investigations, the challenge for the prosecution and the police is witness care — how to keep the witnesses engaged throughout the process,” Llewellyn said.

“Intellectually, strategically as advocates and as prosecutors they did very well — in what was a very challenging case — to maintain their concentration and their high level of performance over the six months,” the DPP said of Rowe and Cook.

She also thanked the 14 witnesses, “including the two who had pleaded guilty and gave evidence for the prosecution. I wish to thank them for honouring their part of the plea negotiations”.

“My great commendations also to the jurors. We commenced the case six months ago with seven jurors and we ended the case with seven jurors. That is a fantastic achievement. And the jurors, to me, are a shining beacon to other citizens in this country about what doing your duty as a citizen is when it comes to jury duty. I would ask other persons to emulate them in stepping forward to do jury duty,” Llewellyn said.