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In the Supreme Court on Friday, October 2, 2026, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes handed a life sentence and 25 years to a Kingston painter. In addition, Justice Sykes also ruled that 35-year-old David Smith must serve 45 years before he is egible for parole.
Justice Sykes handed down the judgement after Smith, the “triggerman,” pleaded guilty in June 2026 to two counts each of capital murder, conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to kidnap. These charges related to the September 2023 abduction and killing of Toshyna Patterson and her 10‑month‑old daughter, Sarayah Paulwell.
During the sentencing, the offender appeared visibly distressed, while Patterson’s mother and sisters cried. The family chose not to comment after the sentencing.
The mother and daughter were abducted from their home in St. Andrew in September 2023. Their bodies were later discovered in the Wareika Hills area. According to the prosecution’s case, they had been shot and burned.
Justice Sykes made it known how he felt about the infant’s demise.
In his comments, Justice Sykes was particularly critical of the killing of the infant.
“It really takes a special kind of evil to kill a baby deliberately,” Sykes said.
Smith has been charged alongside the alleged mastermind, Leoda Bradshaw, a former U.S. Navy petty officer. She was reportedly in a relationship with Phillip Paulwell at the time of the killings. She is also the mother of one of his children.
Bradshaw faces two counts each of capital murder, conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to kidnap. She has been jointly charged with Roland Balfour and Bjorn Black in connection with the killings.
Balfour, who is Bradshaw’s cousin, is charged with two counts each of accessory before the fact to murder and kidnapping. Black faces two counts each of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to murder, and conspiracy to kidnap, in addition to firearms-related offenses.
Balfour and Bradshaw are currently in custody awaiting their trial, scheduled for February 22, 2027.
Two other men implicated in the case, Richard Brown and Roshane Miller, have already pleaded guilty to related offenses. They have received their sentences.
Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alice-Ann Gabbidon represented the Crown in the case. Attorneys Franklin Grenyion and Shamar Hanson defended Smith.