Vybz Kartel Appeal | Lawyers ask court to accept fresh evidence

Livern Barrett, Senior Gleaner Writer 

The attorneys for incarcerated entertainers Vybz Kartel and Shawn Storm are seeking to have fresh evidence included in their appeal challenging their murder conviction.

The applications were made before the Court of Appeal this morning when the much-anticipated hearing got underway.

Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, and Shawn Storm, whose given name is Shawn Campbell, and their co-convicts, Kahira Jones and Andre St John are seeking to have their convictions quashed.

READ: Vybz Kartel sentenced to life In prison, to serve 35 years before parole

Among the new evidence their lawyers want included is an affidavit given by attorney-at-law Kimberli Whittaker.

Whittaker's affidavit includes the statements of two jurors who served in the entertainers' 2014 murder trial.

The two statements are part of the evidence in the corruption trial of another juror who allegedly tried to influence the seven-member panel to free Kartel and his co-accused.

Valerie Neita-Robertson, the attorney representing Kartel, said the statements indicated that during the murder trial one juror approached the jury foreman "and offered a bribe to return a verdict of not guilty".

IN PHOTO:  Attorney Valerie Neita-Robertson

Prosecutor Jeremy Taylor vigourously opposed the applications.

Pointing to the evidence that the jury foreman played a recording of the alleged bribe for her counterparts, Neita-Robertson said this meant the panel was provided with materials that made them incapable of sitting as jurors.

"This is relavant to the issue of a fair trial," she argued.

"This is relevant to the issue of whether the trial judge, having that information before him (the alleged bribe), conducted the appropriate enquiry," she continued.

Neita-Robertson further argued that had the judge conducted his enquiries, he would have discharged the jurors and order a new trial.

Bert Samuels, the attorney representing Shawn Storm, asked the Court of Appeal to include, also, the handwritten statement of the main prosecution witness at the trial.

IN PHOTO: Attorney Bert Samuels 

In addition, Samuels wants the court to include separate affidavits filed by his client and Kimberly Cranston.

He said Shawn Storm, in his affidavit, indicated that he was not represented when the presiding judge discussed the alleged bribe.

"The judge found himself thinking about expediency rather than a fair trial," Samuels argued.

President of the Court of Appeal Justice Dennis Morrison, who is hearing the case along with Justice Patrick Brooks and Frank Williams, will rule on the applications shortly.

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