Long wait for Kartel verdict - Lawyer said appeal outcome unlikely before Christmas
Supporters of Vybz Kartel are being told that they may have to wait until December to hear whether he, along with his three co-convicts, have been successful in their appeal against their murder convictions and life sentences.
Attorney-at-law Bert Samuels, who represents Shawn Storm, said that it is unlikely that a ruling will come in days, or even weeks.
"Based on the workload of the court, and the length of this case, I think that the Christmas term, which is next term, is when I hope we will get a decision by," Samuels said.
Kartel and three of his four co-accused were found guilty in 2014 of the 2011 murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams, marking the end to a keenly watched trial that has lasted for 65 days.
Vybz Kartel, Shawn Storm, Kahira Jones and Andre St John were convicted of the killing of Clive 'Lizard' Williams at a house in Havendale, St Andrew, in August 2011.
They were all given the mandatory life sentences with Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, ordered to serve 35 years before he is eligible for parole. Campbell, Jones and St John were ordered to each serve 25 years before they become eligible for parole.
Several attorneys have been appearing before the Court of Appeal since Monday, seeking to overturn the convictions and sentences. Lead prosecutor Jeremy Taylor is scheduled to appear before the court today. His job is to convince the three judges hearing the matter to keep Kartel and company in prison.
WRITTEN JUDGEMENT
Yesterday, Samuels said that they have to await the written judgement after all the court proceedings have been completed to know the fate of the men.
"This judgement would not be handed down before or near to Christmas, the earliest. They are going to do a written judgement, so we have to wait on them to do their written judgement," he said.
Kartel's lead attorney, Valerie Neita Robertson, said that she is not sure when a verdict would be given, but she would not mind if one was reached today.
She told THE WEEKEND STAR that Kartel has a strong chance of winning the appeal, and she is looking forward to the results.
"We are always looking forward to win. We don't go into an appeal to lose," she said.
In court yesterday, Oswest Senior-Smith, the attorney for Andre St John, said that the trial judge should have put more weight on the outright denial by Kartel of any involvement in the death of Lizard.
Senior-Smith said that this outright denial was not given sufficient weight by the presiding judge, Justice Lennox Campbell, in his directions to the 11-member jury. He said that emphasis was instead placed on the men's assertion that there was a conspiracy by the police against them.
"My Lord, my hands are clean of Clive Williams' blood, if, indeed, Clive Williams is deceased," Kartel said during the trial.
Attorney-at-law Bert Samuels, who represents Shawn Storm, said that it is unlikely that a ruling will come in days, or even weeks.
"Based on the workload of the court, and the length of this case, I think that the Christmas term, which is next term, is when I hope we will get a decision by," Samuels said.
Kartel and three of his four co-accused were found guilty in 2014 of the 2011 murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams, marking the end to a keenly watched trial that has lasted for 65 days.
Vybz Kartel, Shawn Storm, Kahira Jones and Andre St John were convicted of the killing of Clive 'Lizard' Williams at a house in Havendale, St Andrew, in August 2011.
They were all given the mandatory life sentences with Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, ordered to serve 35 years before he is eligible for parole. Campbell, Jones and St John were ordered to each serve 25 years before they become eligible for parole.
Several attorneys have been appearing before the Court of Appeal since Monday, seeking to overturn the convictions and sentences. Lead prosecutor Jeremy Taylor is scheduled to appear before the court today. His job is to convince the three judges hearing the matter to keep Kartel and company in prison.
WRITTEN JUDGEMENT
Yesterday, Samuels said that they have to await the written judgement after all the court proceedings have been completed to know the fate of the men.
"This judgement would not be handed down before or near to Christmas, the earliest. They are going to do a written judgement, so we have to wait on them to do their written judgement," he said.
Kartel's lead attorney, Valerie Neita Robertson, said that she is not sure when a verdict would be given, but she would not mind if one was reached today.
She told THE WEEKEND STAR that Kartel has a strong chance of winning the appeal, and she is looking forward to the results.
"We are always looking forward to win. We don't go into an appeal to lose," she said.
Bert Samuels
Valerie Neita Robertson
In court yesterday, Oswest Senior-Smith, the attorney for Andre St John, said that the trial judge should have put more weight on the outright denial by Kartel of any involvement in the death of Lizard.
Senior-Smith said that this outright denial was not given sufficient weight by the presiding judge, Justice Lennox Campbell, in his directions to the 11-member jury. He said that emphasis was instead placed on the men's assertion that there was a conspiracy by the police against them.
"My Lord, my hands are clean of Clive Williams' blood, if, indeed, Clive Williams is deceased," Kartel said during the trial.
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