Silvera anxious for freedom

Former member of parliament Jolyan Silvera is anxious to secure his freedom having told his lawyer he is innocent of the charges that have been laid against him.

Silvera, who represented St Mary West between 2011 and 2016 in the House of Representatives, is alleged to have murdered his wife, Melissa Silvera.

"I have firm instructions," Peter Champagnie, Silvera's lawyer, said after his client was remanded in custody following a court hearing on Thursday.

"My client is indicating that he is innocent and all of that will be ventilated in court," said Champagnie.

Silvera has been behind bars since January 18 and will remain there until April 11, at least, when a bail application is set to be heard in the Home Circuit Court.

"He is anxious to be vindicated, he's anxious to have his day in court and he is very, very much concerned, very apprehensive, as anyone would, in that particular position," Champagnie said.

The media have been barred from covering the matter due to the fact that Silvera has been charged under the Firearms Act, thus making the hearing an in-camera matter. He is alleged to have used his licensed firearm in an illegal manner to shoot and kill his wife at their house in Stony Hill, St Andrew, on November 10.

Police were alerted to the death of Melissa on November 10, 2023, about 7 a.m. The police initially responded to what Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the crime portfolio Fitz Bailey said was thought to be a "death investigation" at the couple's Upper St Andrew house. However, following an autopsy, it was discovered that Melissa did not die from natural causes "but as a result of possible gunshot wounds".