Chief Justice Bryan Sykes on Thursday, accepted the guilty plea of former Member of Parliament Jolyan Silvera in the death of his wife.
The decision was handed down in the Corporate Area based Gun Court.
Silvera , a former member of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), was arrested and charged in January 2024.
He was charged with murder, manslaughter and using a firearm to commit an offence.
He pleaded guilty to the two lesser charges earlier this week, after initially pleading not guilty.
As part of a proposed plea deal, Silvera reportedly admitted that on November 10, 2023 he shot his wife, Melissa during a domestic dispute.
He reportedly said that on the fateful night, he and his wife engaged in a heated argument where among other things, she blamed him for the death of their son, Justin, in August 2017.
The body of Justin, who was only a year old, was found floating in their pool, while both Silvera and the household helper were at home.
On November 10, 2023, Melissa Silvera, 42, was found dead at the couple’s home. Early reports then suggested that she died in her sleep from natural causes.
Silvera reportedly told family and friends a combination of stories about how Melissa died.
One was that she died of a suspected aneurysm. Another one was that she fell while taking a shower and hit her head.
However, a post-mortem examination revealed that she died from gunshot wounds.
The former legislator could face several years in prison as manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, while the firearms charge, attracts a maximum of 25 years.
Silvera was arrested and charged on January 18, 2024, and has remained in custody since.
He will be sentenced on March 6.