McDonald known for his ‘kind deeds’

Portland businessman Everton ‘Beachy Stout’ McDonald, who is on trial for allegedly orchestrating the murder of his wife, was yesterday painted as a Good Samaritan in the parish who was quick to help everyone including the police at the Port Antonio Police Station.

Noting that the businessman operated a popular supermarket in the parish, a former transport examiner and the defendant’s friend of almost 40 years, told the court that McDonald was a man who was known for his “kind deeds”.

“Everyone goes to this business on William Street for assistance, for handouts, for solicitation of things, from the police go right down, everybody,” the man said while giving character evidence yesterday after the court was informed that McDonald has opted not to give a statement in support of his defence.

The witness, while noting that he did not know if the defendant assisted police from all the police stations in the parish, as he was not privy to all of McDonald’s business, said he knew for a fact that he assisted those at the Port Antonio Police Station.

According to him, they would often approach Beachy Stout for assistance with events that they are hosting and he would help.

ON TRIAL FOR MURDER

McDonald and St Mary fisherman, Oscar Barnes, are currently on trial in the Home Circuit Court for the July 20, 2020 murder of Tonia McDonald in Sherwood Forest in the parish.

Contract killer Denvalyn Minott, who is currently serving 19 years in prison for his role in her murder, testified that Beachy Stout hired him to carry out the killing for $3 million. However, he said he subcontracted Barnes to execute the hit and watched as he stabbed Tonia to death and slashed her throat, before setting her car ablaze.

The transport examiner, who was one of two character witnesses, described the defendant as a “feather in the cap” in the Portland community who was always lending a helping hand. Both men, who are close friends of the defendant, said they did not believe that he was involved in the killing of his wife.

The transport examiner told the court that when he met Beachy Stout in 1984, he met him doing a good deed. The witness said Beachy Stout was transporting some children to a beach trip in a market truck, and that when he stopped him and was told about the situation, he escorted the truck to its destination.

From then he said their friendship bloomed and his wife and Tonia were also friends and that the couple would often visit each other.

The witness, when asked by the defence whether he believed that his friend had killed his wife, said, “I have seen that he is not of such character.”

Further, the witness, who insisted that he came only because of his conviction that Beachy Stout is a man of sound character, also apologised for not visiting him in prison.

ACTS OF KINDNESS

The other witness, a chef who has enjoyed a close business relationship with the defendant for over 25 years, said he had personally witnessed the “astute businessman’s” acts of kindness.

He said persons would often approach the defendant with their problems while he was having a meal at his food establishment and he would also assist. He said he would also host back-to-school treats.

Noting that the allegations caught him by surprise, he said, “I never see the relationship going along that route.”

According to him, he knew that they interacted daily and Beachy Stout would joke about her to him.

On the other hand, he said the defendant never discussed any problems that they were having.

“I know him to be a man who regularly showers her with gifts,” he said.

Barnes, for his part, proclaimed his innocence while branding the lead detective as a liar, in an unsworn statement from the dock.

“ I am innocent, I don’t know Mr Denvalyn Minott and I don’t know Mr Beachy Stout. I have nothing to do with the charges. I never give Mr … any statement Mr … tell a big lie on me. I am innocent,” he declared.

The chief investigator had testified that Barnes gave him a statement in which he said that he knew about Tonia’s killing and could have saved her life.

Meanwhile, earlier in the proceedings, Justice Chester Stamp refused an application from the prosecution to amend the indictment to lay two new counts of murder conspiracy – one against McDonald for allegedly conspiring with Minott and the other against Barnes for allegedly conspiring with Minott.

The judge on Monday had tossed out the conspiracy to murder charges against both defendants saying that there was no evidence of a conspiracy between the two.

However, the prosecutor said the two new counts of conspiracy have been made out in the evidence that has been presented.

But, noting the defendant’s argument that the amendment would prejudice the case against their clients, at this late stage, the judge accepted that the amendment would prejudice the case against Barnes.

In McDonald’s case, he was of the view that there was no new evidence to ground the new charge and that the same evidence that is being used for murder is the same evidence being relied on for the new conspiracy count.

In the meantime, Barnes’ character witnesses will give evidence today when the matter resumes.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com