VYBZ KARTEL TRIAL: Judge continues summation this morning

Damion Mitchell, News Editor - Radio & Online



Justice Lennox Campbell, the judge presiding at the Vybz Kartel murder trial, is to continue his summation this morning when the four-month-old trial resumes in the Home Circuit Court.



Already, Justice Campbell has reviewed the evidence of eight of the 24 witnesses called by the prosecution.



He must complete the review of all 24 witnesses before handing over the matter to the jurors to decide the fate of the dancehall entertainer and his four co-accused.



Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, is charged jointly with Kahira Jones; Shane Williams and André St John and fellow entertainer Shawn Campbell, also called Shawn Storm; for the August 16, 2011 murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams over two missing guns.



Last week, Justice Campbell told the 11-member jury that something happened at Vybz Kartel's gate in Havendale, St Andrew on August 16.



The judge reminded the jurors that one of the accused, Shawn Storm, admitted that he went to the gate and left.



He also noted that another accused, Andre St John said he was on his way out of the yard when the main witness came and a dog rushed him.



Kartel was allegedly bitten after trying to protect the witness.



Justice Campbell told the jurors that the defense has claimed that the witness was lying because he couldn't remember what happened on that day.



He also reminded the jurors that the main witness and the murder victim were scared because of the situation they were in.



However, he pointed out that the men were not weak-kneed, but ones who "locked" guns.



And, the judge has asked the jury to refer to text messages in the case sent by ‘Lizard’ to his girlfriend.



He said the jurors should follow the sequence of time in the case.



According to the judge, there has been much scrutiny of the timing of events including the time when text messages were sent.



The High Court judge said some of the messages sent by the witness, 'Lizard', and others would not make sense.



However, Justice Campbell said the jurors would have to decide whether the text messages are genuine.



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