‘We are close to the end’
JUSTICE CHESTER Stamp has put the jury on notice that the high-profile murder trial of businessman Everton ‘Beachy Stout’ McDonald and his co-accused, Oscar Barnes, is just about ready to be handed over to them for deliberations.
Yesterday the trial judge told the jury, “We are close to the end.”
His summation, now heading into its sixth day, was adjourned yesterday after just the morning session.
The Gleaner understands that a member of the jury had an engagement elsewhere, resulting in the early adjournment.
The matter got under way about 10:45 a.m. yesterday and McDonald appeared to be far more attentive than on previous days during the trial.
On other occasions, after being released from handcuffs in the prisoner’s dock, the businessman would often bow or place his head in his lap for the entirety of the sittings.
However, on Tuesday, he faced the presiding judge and was seen consulting with his lead attorney between breaks.
McDonald, 69, and Barnes, 39, are standing trial in the circuit division of the Supreme Court for the July 20, 2020 murder of McDonald’s second wife, Tonia.
She was 32 years old when prosecutors say Barnes cut her throat and stabbed her nine times before setting her ablaze in Sherwood Forest, Portland.
McDonald, a businessman, is who the Crown alleged put a $3-million price tag on her head and wanted her dead because he claimed she was having an affair, shaming him.
The prosecution’s key witness, a self-confessed criminal, Denvalyn ‘Bubbla’ Minott, testified that he was contracted by McDonald, his former employer, to kill Tonia, popularly known as ‘Sassy’.
19-YEAR SENTENCE
Minott is serving 19 years and 10 months in prison for his role in Tonia’s murder.
He is eligible for parole after 10 years as part of his plea deal.
Minott told the jurors that he was contracted by McDonald to murder Tonia, but did not receive a cent of the $3 million.
He further testified that he subcontracted the murder to Barnes, who allegedly carried out the act.
Stamp, in furtherance of his summation Tuesday, spoke about the cell phone Minott allegedly used to secretly record McDonald and eventually gave to the police.
The trial judge told the jurors that different witnesses during the trial described the phone features, particularly the colour of the device, differently.
Stamp told t he jury pool to decide if the difference in recollection of something taken in 2020 is significant.
The near six-month long trial began in September 2023.
During cross-examination by a defence counsel, a detective constable testified and Stamp said yesterday that the main feature of that policeman’s evidence is receipt of SD cards and the extraction of data, in particular, the photographs and audio files.
Stamp told the jurors that the prosecution said that evidence proves the phone belonged to Minott.
Though Minott was recalled after his evidence in chief, to identify the voices on the recordings, Stamp reminded the jurors that he could not recall when the recordings commenced.
Stamp said he observed earlier in the trial that the jurors were paying close attention to the recordings.
The trial continues today when Stamp is expected to wrap up his summation.