“Victorious” was the phrase utilized by dancehall artist Vybz Kartel to explain his feelings following the Privy Council’s decision on Thursday to overturn his conviction and that of his three co-accused.
Vybz Kartel and Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John, have been sentenced to life in jail in 2014 for the homicide of Clive “Lizard” Williams in 2011.
In his first official assertion, shared with Fox 5 Information’ Lisa Evers, Vybz Kartel stated he was elated that the Privy Council “understood the project and remedied the scenario” by overturning the convictions as a consequence of juror misconduct.
The Privy Council ordered that the case be returned to Jamaica’s Enchantment Court docket to resolve whether or not a retrial is important for Kartel and the three males.
However Vybz Kartel questioned the necessity for a retrial, saying, “I’m assured that the Court docket of Enchantment in Jamaica will do the precise factor within the title of fairness, equity and justice and free us. Some individuals have expressed their concern to me {that a} retrial could also be ordered however to them I say (albeit with my restricted information of the legislation) ‘What’s there to retry’?”
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“I’m now again to being an harmless man within the eyes of the legislation. A grave injustice was completed to me and my co-accused within the authentic trial… and my cries have been heard within the land’s highest court docket,” the deejay added.
Privy Council’s choice
The judicial committee of the Privy Council unanimously concluded that the appellants’ convictions ought to be quashed on the grounds of juror misconduct.
Through the 64-day trial of Kartel, the decide was alerted to an allegation {that a} juror had tried to bribe others by providing $500,000 JMD for a particular verdict. After investigating the allegation and consulting with counsel for each the prosecution and protection, the decide opted to proceed the trial with out dismissing the jury or the implicated juror. The juror was later discovered responsible.
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The Privy Council’s panel of justices stated that the choice to not discharge the jury or the accused juror following allegations of bribery makes an attempt was “deadly to the security of the convictions which adopted.”
Kartel says star witness is a liar
In his assertion, Vybz Kartel additionally acknowledged that the prosecution’s star witness through the trial, Lamar Chow, is a “liar extraordinaire.”
At trial, the prosecution case was that Williams and Chow had been given two unlicensed firearms belonging to Vybz Kartel for safekeeping. They have been later summoned to the deejay’s home and each attacked, after which Chow noticed the Williams mendacity immobile on the bottom with Jones bending over him. Chow escaped however Williams was by no means seen once more.
Along with calling out the witness, Vybz Kartel additionally stated the cellphone proof was tampered with by police and mustn’t have been included within the trial.
Mentioning these irregularities, the deejay stated, “I’m not in the slightest degree apprehensive as I do know I might be acquitted and go residence to my household.”
