Court of Appeal quashes murder conviction of Mavado's son, co-accused

By Kimone Witter    

 

The Court of Appeal has quashed the murder convictions and sentences of Dantay Brooks, son of dancehall entertainer Mavado, and his co-accused, Andre Hinds.

 

The decision was handed down on Friday morning.

 

In 2021, then 18-year-old Brooks was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2018 killing of Lorenzo Thomas in Cassava Piece, St. Andrew.

 

Mr. Thomas was shot, beheaded and his body set ablaze.

 

Brooks was ordered to serve 22 years before becoming eligible for parole.

 

Hinds was also sentenced to life imprisonment.

 

He was ordered to serve 17 years before becoming eligible for parole.

 

Both were also sentenced to 15 years behind bars for arson.

 

The court heard the appeal on December 10 and 11 last year and later reserved judgment.

 

Attorney Oswest Senior-Smith, who represented Hinds, said verdicts of acquittal were entered for both men on Friday. 

 

Mr. Senior-Smith said there were several grounds of appeal, including on the evidence of visual and voice identification. The defence, he said, argued that the prosecution's evidence was "particularly weak", and also questioned the credibility of the crown's main witness, as well as the directions given by the trial judge. 

 

Brooks was represented by attorney Hugh Wildman.

 

The attorneys are awaiting the written decision.