Vybz Kartel lawyer considers next move after murder conviction quashed

By Nakinskie Robinson   

 

Isat Buchanan, attorney for incarcerated entertainer Vybz Kartel, is considering his next move following Thursday's ruling by the UK based Privy Council that quashed the convictions of the entertainer and his three co-accused.

 

The law lords also ruled that the case should be remitted to the Court of Appeal of Jamaica to decide whether to order a retrial of the appellants. 

 

In the ruling handed down just after 11 o'clock Thursday morning, the judges concluded that the appeals should be upheld and the convictions quashed on the ground of juror misconduct.

 

The decision was handed down nearly 10 years to the day Kartel and three others were found guilty of the murder of Clive "Lizard" Williams. 

 

With the Privy Council ruling, either an acquittal or retrial are on the cards for Adidja "Vybz Kartel" Palmer and his three co-appellants Shawn "Shawn Storm" Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre "Mad Suss" St. John, who have been serving life sentences for murder since their initial March 13, 2014 conviction. 

 

Kartel's attorney Isat Buchanan says the ruling is a win for his team. 

 

"I can tell you, certainly on behalf of the clients, they are very very very very happy. And I know because we would have discussed these matters before in terms of outcomes. It is very significant that persons know that they are now cloaked in the presumption of innocence, can't be referred to as convicts - that's a big thing in the Jamaican space - and the Constitution reigns supreme."

 

He said I was delighted at the respect that the Privy Council has for our courts of appeal. And in relation to the men I know that the court will deal expeditiously and deal with the matter of as it is right now.

 

While he does not believe that "in the interest of justice a retrial would be a matter for the state to try to take on now", the attorney said if the matter does go to a retrial, the defence will be fighting it diligently.

 

Attorney Christopher Townsend said the judgment was expected.

 

But he argued that the ruling highlights deficiencies within Jamaica's judicial system. 

 

"It is a second attempt, I believe, at fairness because remember all of these questions had passed our court and had gone to the Privy Council and their decision was really decided on a question of fairness. Now why didn't we decide that? Why couldn't we make a similar decision that the Privy Council have made? Is it that our judicial system is not sufficiently mature? Have they sent it back to us to say look guys, it's time if it is that you want your own apex court, then make better decisions," he contended.   

 

This shift in the case presents a blow for what could be defined as one of the greatest wins of Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn's tenure as head prosecutor.

 

When Radio Jamaica News visited her office in downtown Kingston after the ruling, we were told she was unavailable.

 

Radio Jamaica News was also informed that the DPP may be weighing her decision to comment given the magnitude of the case.