Jolyan Silvera pleads guilty to manslaughter in wife’s death
Former People’s National Party Member of Parliament Jolyan Silvera smirks as he is about to enter a police truck outside the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston in January 2024. Silvera, who is charged with murder in relation to the death of his wife, was in court for the first hearing of the case.Photo: Garfield Robinson
Latest News, News
February 2, 2026

Jolyan Silvera pleads guilty to manslaughter in wife’s death

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Former People’s National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament Jolyan Silvera has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2023 shooting death of his wife, Melissa.

Melissa Silvera, a land developer, was found dead in the couple’s home in Stony Hill, St Andrew, on November 10, 2023. The former politician was arrested and charged in January 2024 and has been in custody since.

Police commenced a murder investigation after three bullet fragments were found inside the body of the politician’s wife. Initially, it was reported that the 42-year-old mother of four boys — one of whom predeceased her — died in her sleep from natural causes. The couple were married in 2015.

READ: Jolyan Silvera murder trial set to begin Monday

Jolyan Silvera is being represented by attorney Peter Champagnie King’s Counsel and Patrice Riley, while the Crown is being represented by prosecutors Dwayne Green and Latoya Bernard.

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