A dramatic twist unfolded in the chilling case surrounding the murder of politician Phillip Paulwell's 10-month-old daughter, Sarayah, and her mother, Toshyna Patterson, after the woman accused of orchestrating the deadly plot failed in her bid to plead guilty and will now face trial.

Leoda Bradshaw, the American Navy officer who prosecutors allege masterminded the abduction and murder of the infant and her 27-year-old mother, was expected to enter a guilty plea. However, efforts to resolve the matter without a trial collapsed when the prosecution and defence could not agree on the facts of the case.

Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson explained that Bradshaw was willing to plead guilty, but only to her version of what happened.