The investigation into the murder of Melissa Silvera, wife of former People’s National Party legislator Jolyan Silvera, takes a critical turn with reported photographs from the crime scene at Diamond Court, Stony Hill. Jolyan Silvera faces murder charges in connection with his wife's death, initially believed to be from natural causes. The case, now moved to the Circuit Court, unveils new evidence after an autopsy discovered bullet fragments. A photograph, presented to Silvera during custody, contradicts his earlier statements, raising suspicions of tampering.

Silvera Mystery

Key photo sparks questions about crime scene integrity in murder case

Jamaica Gleaner/23 Jan 2024/Andre Williams/Staff Reporter

PHOTOGRAPHS REPORTEDLY taken at the scene of the crime, inside the Diamond Court, Stony Hill home of Melissa Silvera and her husband, former People’s National Party legislator Jolyan Silvera, are expected to play a critical role in the ongoing probe into her murder.

Jolyan Silvera, 52, a former member of parliament for St Mary Western, was last week slapped with a murder charge in relation to the death of his wife.

The Gleaner has been reliably informed that Silvera will be placed before the Circuit Court Division of the Supreme Court later this week on a voluntary bill of indictment.

The director of public prosecutions (DPP) is empowered under Section 2 (2) of the Criminal Justice (Administration) Act to move a case straight to the Circuit Court without the necessity for there having been any preliminary examination of the accused before a resident magistrate.

Melissa, a University of Virginia graduate, was 42 years old at the

time of her death, which was initially reported to be from natural causes.

Her union with the accused brought about four children, three of whom are still alive.

On November 10, it was widely publicised that Melissa passed away peacefully in her sleep.

An autopsy conducted three weeks later at a prominent funeral home in Kingston unearthed three bullet fragments from her body, prompting investigators to mount a murder probe.

The matter was subsequently removed from the jurisdiction of the local police and elevated to the desk of investigators assigned to the Major Investigation Division (MID).

The Gleaner understands that, last Thursday, while Silvera was in custody, one of the photographs in question was presented for the first time to the accused and his legal team.

Silvera, who remained in the custody of the police Thursday night, after failing to report to investigators earlier that day, was slapped with a murder charge, on Friday after a brief question-and-answer session with attorney-at-law Richard Lynch present.

King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, who currently represents Silvera, was on hand at the MID Spanish Town Road office on Thursday.

Silvera was picked up by the police at the couple’s Diamond Court home while preparing for a party that was eventually cancelled.

“The photo is not consistent with the statements he had given prior,” said a Gleaner source who is close to the murder probe.

The Gleaner reported on Friday that investigators carried out further checks following Melissa’s January 12 funeral, and re-interviewed some of the parties who visited the house and also who handled the body.

The photo allegedly contained items of evidential value. However, investigators have not been able to locate the critical objects captured in the imagery.

“The same photo was shown to a particular individual, who, accordingly, said that was not how they saw the now deceased when they arrived at the location; which at the very least says the scene was tampered with, ”the source said.

The Gleaner understands that that individual was called to the death house and allegedly carried out cleaning after the body was removed.

The lone police sergeant, who The Gleaner previously reported was first lawman to visit the scene and drove his personal motor vehicle there, has been transferred from the Stony Hill Police Station.

“There are so many inconsistences between the stories given from the morgue, his [Jolyan Silvera’s] story and the police who went on the scene and did such a shoddy job ... investigators wouldn’t have gotten the case so late, ”the source said.

Head of the Crime and Security portfolio, Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey last week said guidance was sought from the office of the DPP, before Silvera was picked up.

Bailey said the police have sufficient evidence to mount a viable prosection against the former PNP representative, commending the investigative team and their resilience.

“The story about the renovation of the home is factual, ”Bailey said in a video release on Friday.

The room was fully made over, according to persons close to the probe.

There were signs of new furniture, tiles and paint job which is allegedly not consistent with the key photographs.

Bailey also disclosed that additional charges are pending for Silvera and that the police relied on all the forensic sciences to include cyber, ballistics and telecommunication.

Bailey also downplayed claims that the police sergeant who first went to the scene was involved in a cover-up.

“I know that the issue of cover-up is a public discussion but if the same police officer who went on the scene requested a postmortem to be done, then in my own understanding and assessment, there is no inclination of a cover-up because the postmortem really is to reveal the cause of death,” added Bailey in the video release.

Investigators theorise, based on the key photograph, that the scene was allegedly cleaned and reconfigured before anyone arrived.

“One of the photos ... inadvertently picked up a spent casing on the bed,” the source told The Gleaner.

Silvera’s licensed firearm was seized for ballistic testing last year. However, the police have not publicly disclosed the findings.

Silvera, a one-term member of the House of Representatives, won on the PNP ticket in the 2011 general election.

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