Attorneys representing dancehall star Vybz Kartel and his co-accused, Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John, have returned to the Court of Appeal in their ongoing efforts to secure their freedom. Meanwhile, prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) are vigorously arguing that the four men should face a fresh trial for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. The current hearing, set to span five days, follows a recent directive from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which overturned their previous convictions on the grounds of juror misconduct and remitted the case back to the Court of Appeal to determine whether a retrial or dismissal is warranted.
During the morning session, counsels for Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell presented an affidavit contending that their client would be unable to receive a fair retrial. The affidavit highlighted the impact of coverage by Sir P, a popular video blogger on the Politricks Watch YouTube channel. The defence argued that bloggers with no journalistic training had influenced public perception, thereby compromising the possibility of empanelling an impartial jury. Campbell’s legal team emphasized that the pervasive media coverage has tainted the pool of potential jurors, undermining the integrity of any future trial.
The affidavit also included statements from Campbell’s sister, expressing concerns over the feasibility of securing a fair and impartial jury in Jamaica. She underscored the financial strain another trial would impose on the family, labelling the judicial process as unjust. Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson objected to the inclusion of these arguments, but the court allowed them to stand, with Justice McDonald Bishop noting the judges’ prerogative to revisit preliminary rulings on the ODPP’s objections.
This appeal follows the March 14 ruling by the Privy Council, which directed that the previous convictions be quashed due to juror misconduct. The Court of Appeal now faces the critical task of deciding whether to order a retrial or dismiss the case entirely. Vybz Kartel and his co-accused were sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2014, with Kartel eligible for parole after 35 years, Campbell and Jones after 25 years, and St John after 15 years.
