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By Racquel Porter
The prosecution in the Everton 'Beachy Stout' McDonald and Oscar Barnes trial began its closing submission to a panel of seven jurors in the Home Circuit Court on Monday afternoon.
Mr. McDonald and Mr. Barnes have been on trial since last September for the July 20, 2020 murder of Mr. McDonald's wife Tonia in Portland.
The prosecution called 14 witnesses, including two accomplices and Tonia's mother.
Minutes into the submission, the mother, who broke down, exited the courtroom.
"If fish come from river bottom and tell yuh alligator have gumboil, believe him."
That's a well known Jamaican saying used by the lead prosecutor, before telling the jury that Denvalyn Minott in this case was the fish at the bottom of the river.
Minott is serving 19 years for his role in Tonia's murder.
The prosecutor explained to the jury that Minott was the one who arranged for Mr. Barnes to meet in Port Antonio and for Tonia to pick them up under the guise that they were going to purchase illegal guns.
Earlier in the trial Minott, otherwise known as 'Bubbla' told the court that Tonia wanted to purchase an illegal firearm to avenge her father's death.
Highlighting areas important to the prosecution, the prosecutor zeroed in on Mr. McDonald's behaviour the morning after his wife was killed.
One of the witnesses had testified that the morning after Tonia was killed it was business as usual.
The witness told the court that Mr. McDonald accused Tonia of stealing over $30 million and instructed him to to return his mother-in-law's car.
The prosecutor asked the jurors, "How do you find his behaviour as a man who lost his wife the day before?"
The prosecutor reminded the jurors that there was a question about the level of trust between Minott and the first witness.
The jury was reminded about the intricate planning that took place before Tonia was killed.
The prosecution told the court that Mr. McDonald ordered Tonia's death because he believed his wife was cheating.
Noting that multiple witnesses testified that Mr. McDonald told them that his wife was cheating, the prosecution said the evidence supports Minott's testimony.
The prosecutor asked the juror to imagine what Jamaica would be like if "everybody weh get a likkle bun, kill their partner".
The prosecutor also questioned, "Even if she was cheating, does it mean that she should have lost her life? It is a matter for you."
The prosecutor also narrowed in on the secretly recorded conversations.
Prior to Monday's adjournment, the prosecution told the jury that it has brought sufficient evidence that Mr. McDonald ordered Minott to kill his wife.
The prosecution is to continue its closing argument on Tuesday.
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