LEODA Bradshaw, the alleged mastermind behind the 2023 abduction and murder of parliamentarian Phillip Paulwell’s 10-month-old daughter, Sarayah, and her 27-year-old mother Toshyna Patterson, on Wednesday had her attorney-at-law Deborah Martin request documents crucial to the case, which appears to be inching closer to trial this year.

Bradshaw appeared in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston for a trial-readiness hearing in relation to the matter.

Following Wednesday’s adjournment of the case, Martin told the Jamaica Observer that three people are now before the court in relation to the matter, but in order to properly mount their defence the team needed certain documents in its possession.

“Today was a day for trial readiness to assess where we are at. The defence wrote to the Crown last week seeking disclosure on a number of items, and today was a discussion about identifying how best to get the material that the defence considers essential for our readiness for trial,” Martin explained.

She said the defence asked for records in the custody of the police, which she has since received. She shared that the defence also requested material that is in the custody of a particular Crown witness.

“That is to be procured. We have asked for the records of what transpired in court proceedings involving other persons who are witnesses — that is relevant to the credibility of witnesses when they come to give evidence. We are preparing for that,” the attorney said.

She added: “Three persons gave caution statements to the police indicating their involvement in the matter in various ways. Those three persons have pleaded guilty. I am not sure if all three will be witnesses in the case but we got some notices about witnesses who have pleaded guilty participating in the trial.”

On June 11 a disagreement between the Crown and Bradshaw’s legal team over her alleged involvement saw Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Claudette Thompson indicating that the matter would go to trial.

Bradshaw had expressed an intention to plead guilty to non-capital murder; however, the DPP explained at that time that her office was not in agreement with the parameters of the proposed deal. A notice was served on the DPP, indicating Bradshaw’s intention to seek a Newton Hearing — a legal procedure that is applied in cases where defendants plead guilty but disagree with the facts of the case proffered by the prosecution. In cases like those, where facts affect sentencing, a judge alone would have to decide which version of a story is true.

On Wednesday, Martin said her client wanted to discuss her role in the abduction and killing because she rejected the arguments being put forward by the Crown as the facts.

“Based on what the Crown is advancing, there are trial issues and the matter is set for trial this year, assuming everything is in place and we are all ready and able to proceed.”

Bradshaw will next appear in court on September 17.