VYBZ KARTEL MURDER TRIAL: JCF communications head summoned to court

Barbara Gayle, Justice Coordinator



KINGSTON, Jamaica:

The head of the communications arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has been summoned to appear in the Vybz Kartel murder trial following complaints by the defence.



When the trial resumed in the Home Circuit court this morning, defence attorney Tom Tavares-Finson complained about a media release issued by the Corporate Communications Unit of the JCF over the weekend.



The attorney made reference to two news articles which quoted the police release.



Jutice Lennox Campbell then requested that deputy superintendent of police Steve Brown appear before the court today to respond to the complaints.



He said a lot of resources had been expended on the case and he did not want anything to jeopardise the trial.



Defence lawyers have previously raised concerns about information released by the police in relation to the court.



The last complaint was made after the police recently reported that they suspected that vandalism of a Digicel cable and a robbery at a hotel were linked to a case before the court.



It was widely speculated that the case being referred to was the Vybz Kartel trial and defense lawyers complained that the police release could compromise the case against their clients.



The Crown is alleging that Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer; entertainer Shawn Campbell, popularly known as Shawn Storm; André St John; Shane Williams; and Kahira Jones, murdered Williams on August 16, 2011.



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