‘Beachy Stout’ hearings rescheduled to October 6
Two plea and case management hearings for Portland businessman Everton “Beachy Stout” McDonald, who is charged with the murders of his first and second wives, failed to get off the ground after his lawyers were unable to confirm that full disclosure had been made.
Supreme Court Judge Justice Vinnette Graham-Allen, who was Wednesday morning adamant that there would not be another adjournment of the matter when initially told, reluctantly rescheduled the hearings for October 6 but not before chastising the attorneys for disobeying her orders on the last occasion and reminding them that to do so again would see them being held in contempt of court.
McDonald was charged in February 2021 with the murder of his first wife Marlene McDonald at her home in May 2009.
Investigators reopened that case in 2020 after he was arrested for the murder of his second wife, Tonia.
McDonald is to be tried for the murder of his first wife by himself, but he and another man, Oscar Barnes, are charged in relation to his second wife’s murder and will be standing trial together for that matter.
Barnes on Wednesday morning had his bail extended in the matter. McDonald was however ordered remanded for both.
In making several additional orders which must be carried out by the attorneys before the next court date, the judge said it was common knowledge that trials must commence within a reasonable time from when an accused is charged.
In the meantime, the Crown indicated that it intended to call 25 witnesses in the trial relating to the murder of Tonia. That matter will be tried first.
– Alicia Dunkley-Willis