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Beachy Stout’s son could face 20-year sentence for slaying wife

Published:Saturday | February 4, 2023 | 1:51 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter

Jamaican-born US Air Force Major Andre McDonald, son of 67-year-old businessman Everton ‘Beachy Stout’ McDonald, was found guilty of manslaughter yesterday in a Texas court for the 2019 death of his wife Andreen McDonald. The elder McDonald, who...

Jamaican-born US Air Force Major Andre McDonald, son of 67-year-old businessman Everton ‘Beachy Stout’ McDonald, was found guilty of manslaughter yesterday in a Texas court for the 2019 death of his wife Andreen McDonald.

The elder McDonald, who is accused of killing his wives in Jamaica, is currently in custody and scheduled to stand trial in September for the murder of his second wife.

The long-awaited trial involving his 40-year-old son began on January 23, 2023.

The jury deliberation began on Thursday and continued into yesterday. However, after more than 10 hours, the foreman informed the trial judge that the 12-member jury could not arrive at a unanimous verdict of guilty or not guilty for the charge of murder.

It was all smiles among the accused and his defence team who patted him on his shoulder.

The jury was sent back and after two hours unanimously returned with a guilty verdict for manslaughter which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

A sentencing is expected to be handed down next week, the judge announced.

Andreen, 29, who was also born in Jamaica, was first reported missing on March 1, 2019.

Investigators found an axe, hatchet and heavy-duty work gloves at the McDonald’s home.

McDonald was initially arrested March 2, accused of tampering with evidence, but was released April 3 after his bail was reduced to US$300,000.

Officials determined that remains found on July 11 about 10 miles from the couple’s house were those of Andreen.

Bexar County Sheriff arrested and charged McDonald with murder on July 13.

During the trial, McDonald in his own testimony detailed how he knocked and kicked his wife until she stopped breathing and then disposed her body.

“When she got the second kick, I think I heard some type of wheezing coming out of her,” he told the court.

He said he was not the aggressor and said he was defending himself because she was bigger than he is and she is pretty strong.

“When she was attacking me, I was basically trying to defend myself,” McDonald said.

The court also heard the couple’s seven-year-old daughter witnessed the incident.

Beachy Stout and co-accused Oscar Barnes are charged with the 2020 murder of his second wife, Tonia, and are to be tried on September 18, 2023.

The trial judge Justice Vinette Graham Allen has outlined that the jury trial is expected to last seven weeks.

The prosecution intends to call 25 witnesses while McDonald’s defence team intends to call seven.

Attorney Ernest Davis, who is representing Barnes, intends to call two witnesses, including the accused.

Barnes is out on bail.

A trial readiness hearing has been set for June 16, 2023.

Graham Allen at the last case management hearing suggested that McDonald be tried for the 2009 murder of his first wife, Marlene, on January 25, 2024.

andre.williams@gleaner jm.com