Early adjournment in Kartel case as rumour of his freedom sparks court rush

THERE was no evidence taken yesterday in the Vybz Kartel murder trial due to the unavailability of witnesses, which resulted in an early adjournment.


The adjournment came after lead prosecutor Jeremy Taylor told the court after the two o’clock resumption that he was unable to secure witnesses for the matter.

Police trying to disperse the crowd that gathered outside the Home Circuit Court yesterday amidsts false reports that dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel had been freed of the murder charge against him. (PHOTO: PAUL HENRY)

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The afternoon’s early adjournment mirrored that of a early morning break to facilitate the defence meeting with experts from telecoms giant Digicel, who are to give evidence in the matter before the Home Circuit Court.

During the morning sitting, attorney Tom Tavares-Finson applied to the court for an early adjournment to see if the defence lawyer could meet with the Digicel experts as the meeting, originally scheduled for Monday afternoon, did not take place.

Justice Lennox Campbell granted the morning adjournment and said that the director of public Prosecutions should get involved in the matter to get the case going.

Minutes before the matter was scheduled to resume in the afternoon, a large crowd of boisterous people — including scores of students — converged on the Supreme Court building where the trial is being held along King Street, chanting, “The Worl’ Boss free” and ‘dem free the Worl’ Boss”, referring to Vybz Kartel.

The rush stemmed from a rumour that the popular artiste and his four co-accused had been freed of the murder charge against him.

The strong contingent of police, who had been on hand shortly after the trial started, had to work hard to disperse the crowd and keep them at bay. For a while, the police team had to divert persons who wanted to walk by the court.

Where the rumour started was still uncertain up until press time last night, but it gained traction, and even some lawyers were calling the court to find out if it was correct.

Vybz Kartel (real name Adidja Palmer), Kahira Jones, Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, André St John, and Shane Williams are being tried for the August 16, 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams at a house in Havendale, St Andrew.