ATTORNEYS representing murder convicts Everton “Beachy Stout” McDonald and Oscar Barnes on Thursday expressed disappointment that their clients’ sentencing was again postponed.

The new date for sentencing of McDonald and Barnes is September 26 with both facing at least 35 years in prison for murder. They will also be sentenced for conspiracy to murder.

McDonald and Barnes were in March found guilty in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston for the July 20, 2020 murder of Tonia McDonald, who was Beachy Stout’s second wife.

The court accepted, based on the evidence, that Tonia’s murder was ordered by her husband allegedly due to constant infidelity on her part.

McDonald hired Denavalyn “Bubbla” Minott to carry out the hit on his wife. Minott told the court that he subcontracted the killing to Barnes, who he said stabbed the woman to death and cut her throat by himself.

Christopher Townsend, one of five attorneys representing McDonald, told the Jamaica Observer that he was hoping to have the matter disposed of so that a process of appeal could be embarked on.

“The matter is set for next week and so we are hoping that the matter can be disposed of then.

“I believe this is about the third or so adjournment of the sentence. Our client is 69 years old and therefore, he needs to move quickly. Apparently the judge has another engagement today and is unable to be here. We are hoping that this will be the last adjournment,” Townsend said.

In the meantime, Vincent Wellesley, one of two attorneys representing Barnes, was peeved as he said there was very little explanation of why trial judge Chester Stamp was absent on Thursday.

“I am once again disappointed that the sentencing of Mr Barnes had to be adjourned because of the absence again of the trial judge. I don’t believe the defence team has been given sufficient explanation as to why the judge was absent. I heard something but I don’t believe that was sufficient. I am hoping that on the next occasion, the judge will be present so my client can be sentenced so we can take the matter to the Court of Appeal thereafter,” said Wellesley.

A seven-member jury found McDonald and Barnes guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder on March 6 and both men were initially scheduled to be sentenced on May 16.