Interpreter issue delays St Catherine murder case against Paulo Grant

The St Catherine Parish Court on Tuesday could not move ahead with the murder matter involving Paulo Grant, who is charged in connection with the death of his 80-year-old mother, after the court heard that an interpreter was not present.

Grant’s attorney told the court that the accused man is Italian and needs language assistance for the psychiatric evaluation report, as well as for the wider case.

The Clerk of Court said the court had already reached an interpreter in Italy, but the necessary arrangements had not yet been completed. “Your Honour, the only available interpreter is in Italy, but we need to have such a service to pursue the matter,” the clerk said.

Judge Ronief Lawrence ordered that the Ministry of Justice be written to, so that an interpreter can be secured and the proceedings can continue. The case was then put off until July 26 to allow that process to be sorted out.

Prosecutors allege that about 11:00 a.m. on November 19, 2025, residents of Cheesefield in St Catherine went looking for Grant. When they entered the house, they reportedly found the badly decomposed body of his mother, retired 80-year-old Jasmine Grant.

Police were called to the scene, and Paulo Grant was taken into custody on suspicion of murder. He was later formally charged and has since appeared before the court several times.