BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A statement by an uncooperative key witness, in one of two murder trials involving famous Jamaican dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel, is expected to be used as evidence in Court.
The Jamaica Observer online newspaper, dated May 31, reported on the two murder cases which both failed to get underway last week in the Supreme Court that was presided over by Justice Marjorie Cole-Smith.
Reportedly, the matter on the second murder case in which Vybz Kartel, Lenburgh McDonald and Nigel Thompson are before the Court for the alleged murder of businessman Barrington 'Bossie' Bryan, the trial was postponed for June 10.
It was stated that “the postponement was as a result of the unavailability of a witness”.
According to that media house: “The court was informed that the witness is refusing to cooperate with the prosecution. In light of that, the prosecution said it intended to take steps to have the trial without the witness and to proceed with the witness' statement.”
Reportedly, Bryan was shot dead while standing among a group of persons in Gregory Park, St. Catherine, in July 2011.
As gleaned from the Jamaican media house, in the first case, in which Vybz Kartel is jointly charged with Andre St. John, Kahira Jones, Shane Williams, Calvin Haye and fellow entertainer Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell for the murder of Clive Williams, a new trial was set for November 18 to December 6.
Reportedly, when the matter was mentioned before Justice Cole-Smith, the Court was informed that Kartel had a new lawyer, Tom Tavares-Finson, as he was no longer being represented by attorney Valerie Neita Robertson.
Furthermore, it was stated that Tavares-Finson asked for disclosure regarding a bail application filed in chambers for Kartel earlier this year, but the prosecution said all documents it had were handed over to the defence.
Tavares-Finson, reportedly, also told the Court that he wished to make a bail application for Campbell and, as a result, Justice Cole-Smith scheduled June 7 for the bail hearing and for the defence and the prosecution to sort out the matter regarding disclosure.
The Jamaican Observer said Williams was allegedly murdered on August 16, 2011 over the disappearance of an illegal firearm. His body is yet to be found. The prosecution, however, said it has video and other evidence to prove the murder.
