Attorney warns against speculation amid mysterious Silvera death
Published:Monday | December 18, 2023 | 12:10 AM
King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie is cautioning social media users to stick to the facts as the probe into the death of Melissa Silvera continues, noting that public discourse may negatively impact the victim’s young children.
Champagnie and co-counsel Richard Lynch were retained by the “immediate family members” of Silvera’s husband Jolyan Silvera, the former People’s National Party member of parliament for St Mary Western, amid an autopsy revelation which concluded that the woman died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
Initial reports were that Silvera died suddenly in her sleep on November 10.
“While I appreciate the need for transparency in so far as the public’s interest is concerned in this most unfortunate situation, I would urge caution upon those who would want to go beyond the boundaries of facts on social media,” Champagnie said in a statement yesterday.
“One must be sensitive to all the circumstances, particularly as they relate to the young children of the family. The police investigation must be allowed to proceed without any prejudice to anyone.
“Mr Silvera has been cooperating with the investigation. I wish to emphasise that he is not being treated as suspect. Beyond this, I refrain from any further commentary,” the attorney added.
The couple shared three children together. Their two-year-old twin boy tragically drowned in a pool at their St Andrew home in 2017.
Three bullet fragments were found inside Silvera’s body.
The revelation comes a month after the report that she died while sleeping.
The PNP has not commented publicly since the latest development.
A party source told The Gleaner that its leadership is not yet aware of all the facts of the case and at this time has opted not to issue a statement.