This morning, I saw the comments of a popular and very respectable fitness expert and influencer, Shani Shirley, about the Silvera case. She made some excellent points. I am not one to speak on social media, so grant me the allowance of writing my thoughts.

I ask that the following be considered.

Now, before I make my comments, I want to say that I do not work for nor have I spoken to anyone associated with this case, i.e. the DPP, the JCF, anyone from the victim’s family or anyone from the offender’s family. I, like Shani and imagine everyone at large, am sickened by this case.

When there is family-on-family crime, there is a swath of victims that results. In this case, there is obviously Melissa’s family, but above all else, the primary victims are the children of these two people. Children who were the only witnesses to what happened the night Melissa was murdered, and children who were callously and purposefully left in the house with their deceased mother to find her the next day.

The emotional damage to these children would be unimaginable. I say this in hope that the public consider everything I am about to write, having primary consideration to that, meaning the mental health and well-being of the children.

Why Manslaughter?

Let me start off by saying that I personally don’t believe it was manslaughter, but what I believe does not matter. The only question is what the DPP can prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

It is clear that the accused is not going down without a fight. He is not saying he did it – ‘yes I murdered her’. People hear ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ and think it is an easy ladder to climb. Let me tell you – it is not.  The only way you climb this ladder is by evidence.

The public has limited knowledge of what happened that night. We don’t know the full statements from the children. We don’t have a copy of the autopsy report – at least I have not seen it. Let me start with the latter.

How was Melissa killed, and by that I mean, where were the entry points of the bullet wounds? Rumours have gone all around about the entry of the bullet wounds. I too have heard the rumours, but no authorised party, either being the DPP, the JCF, or Melissa’s family, has chosen to release that information. Because of that, I won’t speculate. But I agree with you that would be credible evidence against him.

But there is a more important matter to consider, the main people who would have to give colour to what happened that night are the children. Can you imagine having to put those children on the stand to testify against their father, who killed their mother, about their fighting on the night of her killing, about finding their mother the following morning? Sometimes a plea to a lesser charge is not only about the accused, it is also about the people you have to use to climb that ladder to beyond a reasonable doubt.

I hope and can only assume that Melissa’s family was consulted regarding this plea. To me, it is their choice, and we need to respect it. By all means, I don’t mean we have to be happy with it. But I put my trust in them that they know what is best to protect the memory of their daughter as well as the health, mental and otherwise, of their grandchildren.  

Media houses’ publication of happy pictures of the couple

Shani asked why media houses continue to use wedding pictures of the couple.

The reality is that there are limited pictures of the couple, either singularly or together, and so media houses use what they can find. I understand the ire. Adults want to see true representations of what is going on.

But once again, I go back to the children. Do the children need to see horrible pictures of their parents in print? They already have the nightmare of finding their mother, of knowing that their father did that to her. Does that really need to be compounded by the public’s need for a picture of the accused in an angry state? Adults can imagine what that looks like, the children do not need it.

I agree there must be a balance, but for me, the children and family of the deceased should have the choice.

Where are the voices that are supposed to shed light?

I understand the need for solidarity of women, but not at the expense of the children and Melissa’s family. I will leave it to those caring for the children to decide what, when, how and if ever, the full story gets to be disclosed. I understand that none of that can be done until after the accused is convicted, by plea or by trial, and any public statement at this time would jeopardise that process.

I just ask that we all be patient. The family’s pain and the integrity of the prosecution must supersede any need of the public at large. I can only assume that the family will let the public know when they are ready, and that has to be good enough for everyone else.