Woman accused of killing baby to face fitness-to-plea hearing in April
Published:Monday | February 3, 2025 | 4:33 PMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The St James Circuit Court on Friday rescheduled the much-anticipated fitness-to-plea hearing for Shamoya Green, the woman accused of tossing her infant daughter off a rooftop in December 2023, causing the child’s death.
Presiding High Court Justice Judith Pusey set an April 28 hearing date so that an updated psychiatric report can be completed for Green, who joined the court’s proceedings via the online Zoom platform, to be able to attend that hearing in person.
“The prosecution has not gotten the report yet, so they have to postpone the case so they can get the report. Also, if it is a fitness-to-plea hearing, it has to be in person, so we will see you down here on April 28,” Pusey told Green, who is said to be facing mental challenges.
The court was told that an email had been sent out requesting an update for Green’s psychiatric evaluation, and that a response was expected soon.
The order for the updated fitness-to-plea report was previously given during Green’s first in-person appearance before the St James Circuit Court on November 13, 2024. The report will be a key factor in the upcoming hearing to determine whether Green, who is represented by attorney Jillian Haughton, will be fit to stand trial.
THROWN FROM THIRD FLOOR
Green is charged with murder arising from the death of her five-month-old daughter, Destiny Brown, whom she allegedly tossed off the roof of the family’s three-storey house in Lilliput, St James, on December 6, 2023.
According to the allegations, Green was at home with her common-law husband and other family members when she tried to have a conversation with the man about their relationship, but he refused to engage her. Green reportedly became enraged and left the room, taking Destiny with her.
Green then took the child to the roof of the third floor of the building and threw her on a concrete pit in the yard. The police were summoned and Destiny was taken to hospital, where she died while being treated.
Green’s case was committed to the Circuit Court on September 30, 2024, following several appearances in the St James Parish Court. The matter was originally slated to be heard in the Circuit Court on November 5, but it had to be rescheduled to November 13 due to the passage of Tropical Storm Rafael, which impacted the island.
Before the committal hearing, concerns were raised in the parish court about Green’s mental state, including reports of her suffering hallucinations and a seizure during her first appearance in that court on March 6, 2024.
The findings of a psychiatric assessment, which were revealed on September 4, 2024, indicated that Green had a seizure disorder with resulting psychosis and that her condition had not improved up to that time.