Livern Barrett,  Senior Gleaner Writer 

Senior deputy director of public prosecutions Jeremy Taylor has told the Appeal Court that the jury in the Vybz Kartel murder trial deliberated for nearly two hours saying this is an indication that their verdict was not rushed.

Taylor was responding this morning to the legal arguments submitted by the attorneys for convicts Kartel, his protégé, Shawn Storm as well as Kahira Jones and Andre St John.

They are seeking to have their murder convictions and sentences overturned.

In April 2014, the four were convicted for killing Clive 'Lizard' Williams at a house in Havendale, St Andrew in August 2011.

Last week, their attorneys pointed out that the eleven-member jury was sent out at 3:42 p.m. to consider their verdict.

Valerie Neita-Robertson, Kartel's lead attorney, said this was against agreed protocols for Jamaican courts and placed undue pressure on jurors to reach a verdict.

Watch:#VybzKartelAppeal | Jurors sent too late to consider verdict

But Taylor, in rebutting this assertion, pointed out that the jury deliberated for 1 hour and 54 minutes.

"It cannot be said that they rushed their judgment," said the senior prosecutor.

"He [presiding judge Justice Lennox Campbell] did not tell them to come back at a certain time. What your Lordship was saying is 'take as long as you want'," Taylor said.

 

Judge was not wrong to discharge juror

The ethical dilemma facing the female juror dismissed from the Vybz Kartel murder trial was real and the presiding judge, Justice Lennox Campbell, was not wrong to discharge her, senior deputy director of public prosecutions Jeremy Taylor has asserted.

Taylor was presenting his legal arguments in the appeal filed by Kartel and three other men to have their murder conviction and prison sentences overturned.

The entertainer, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, was convicted in 2014, along with his protege, Shawn Storm, as well as Kahira Jones and Andre St John, for killing Clive 'Lizard' Williams at a house in Havendale, St Andrew in 2011.

Last week, Shawn Storm's attorney complained that the entertainer was not in the judge's chambers when the decision to discharge the juror was taken and argued that this was a breach of his right to a fair trial.

However, Taylor, in recounting what transpired in the judge's chambers, said the female juror had indicated that her son was in custody at the Horizon Adult Correctional Centre, the same facility where Kartel and his co-accused were being housed.

He said the woman revealed that during one visit to her son she and St John's "eyes mek four" and that her son had told her that he was approached by Kartel.

According to Taylor, the woman indicated that she had become fearful.

As a result, he said Campbell took the decision to discharge her and indicated that he would announce in open court that she was being dismissed for personal reasons.

Watch: #VybzKartelAppeal | Jurors sent too late to consider verdict

"The decision to discharge her was not opposed by anyone," said Taylor, referring to the attorneys for all men who were present in the judge's chambers.

"Neither was there any dissenting voice when Mr Campbell said he would announce in court that she is being discharged for personal reasons," he continued.

Added Taylor: "He was not wrong. The ethical dilemma was real."

Further, he a cited legal authority which suggests that an accused can be excluded from discussions in the judge's chambers on the condition that a court reporter is present.

"A court reporter was present [in this case] which is why we have a transcript of what transpired," Taylor argued.

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