"Free Kartel" is what you hear outside the court in Jamaica as the popular dancehall star Vybz Kartel was today found guilty of murder following a high-profile trial.
The day started with heavy security as police blocked streets off surrounding the courts. It was reported about 200 people broke through barricades at one intersection shouting "free Kartel" shortly before the jury started their deliberations in the afternoon.
According to sources at www.independent.co.uk, Police were set in riot gear guarding and barricading streets outside Kingston’s Supreme Court.
Ten out of the 11 person jury found the Dancehall star and three other guilty of an October 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. One defendant was cleared of wrongdoing.
Prosecutors alleged Williams was beaten to death at Kartel's home in August 2011 after being lured there to answer for two missing illegal guns. His body has never been found. Police testified they retrieved a text message from Kartel's phone saying Williams was chopped up in "mincemeat" so fine that his remains would never be found.
Defense lawyer Tom Tavares-Finson, told jurors the prosecution's case against Kartel was "dishonest" and "incompetent," noting that witness statements and a compact disc with evidence saved on it somehow went missing.
Just when you thought things weren’t cray cray enough, it was reported a male juror was arrested on Thursday evening on charges for attempting to bribe the jury foreman to influence the panel to free Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer.
Last year, another murder case against Kartel and two other co-defendants fell off after prosecutors failed to produce evidence to support allegations that the trio killed businessman Barrington "Bossy" Burton in 2011.
Hold up!! How it is Kartel is getting stuck with all these murder charges? Sound like mob activity to me. Sentencing is set for 27 March. Lawyers representing Kartel have indicated they will appeal against the verdict.
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