Dancehall star Mavado has broken his silence following the release of his son, Dante Brooks, and co-accused Andre Hines, after their murder convictions were overturned by Jamaica’s Court of Appeal. The “Gully Gad” took to Instagram to express both his joy and outrage, celebrating his son’s freedom while condemning what he described as a grave miscarriage of justice. “To God be the glory, He comes first in everything we do,” Mavado wrote, before calling out what he believes was a flawed legal process that robbed Brooks of seven years of his life.
The case, which stemmed from the 2018 murder of Lorenzo Thomas in Cassava Piece, was built largely on the testimony of a single eyewitness. Mavado highlighted how the witness changed statements multiple times, admitted to lying to police, and fabricated parts of the story—yet, the trial proceeded without a jury, with a judge making the final decision. “The prosecution could not properly contest the appeal and did not request a retrial,” Mavado stated, emphasizing that even the state admitted to failing basic legal protocols.
In a scathing critique of the justice system, Mavado vowed to take full legal action against those responsible for what he called an “unlawful and unwarranted” case. He pointed to the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which not only overturned the conviction but granted a full acquittal, signalling that the case was fundamentally flawed from the start. “They also tried to drag my name through the mud to help them carry out their wrongdoings and garner headlines for themselves. Well, this story and those headlines are far from over,” he warned.
Mavado also took the time to praise his son’s legal team, specifically attorneys Hugh Wildman and Oswest Senior-Smith, for their relentless fight against what he sees as a system that targets innocent youth. “Mr. Wildman never had a doubt this miscarriage of justice would be overturned from the first minute he started reading the court transcript,” he wrote. Their efforts led to what is now one of the most high-profile acquittals in Jamaica’s recent legal history.
With his son finally free, Mavado is shifting his focus from defence to accountability. His powerful words signal that he won’t rest until justice is served for those he believes were complicit in his son’s wrongful imprisonment. As the dancehall icon continues his battle, the case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges within Jamaica’s judicial system—and a testament to the power of persistence in the face of adversity.
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