Kartel Trial, March 7, 2014: Judge Tells Jurors “If There Is Doubt You Must Acquit” + Busta Rhymes Attends Trial

The judge in the Vybz Kartel murder trial has told jurors that they should not find the entertainer guilty because of the contents of his lyrics.

Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, is charged jointly with fellow entertainer Shawn Campbell, also called Shawn Storm, Kahira Jones; Shane Williams and André St John.

High Court judge Justice Lennox Campbell gave the instruction to the 11-member panel of jurors as he started his summation of the case in the Home Circuit Court this morning.

As he opened his address, the judge told the jurors that they first have to determine whether Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams is dead.

He said if they find that he is not dead, that’s the end of the matter.

However, he said death can be proven by other facts including circumstantial evidence.

The Crown had said it is relying on circumstantial evidence to argue that Kartel and his four co-accused plotted and murdered Williams at the artiste’s Havendale, St Andrew house on August 16, 2011.

The judge outlined to the jurors what is common design, the argument used by the prosecution to implicate the accused men.

The judge told the jurors that they must be satisfied and feel sure that Williams is dead.

Justice Campbell instructed the jurors to decide if the five accused men killed Williams.

Justice Campbell noted that the evidence must point in the direction and one direction only, that the men killed Lizard.

It is alleged that ‘Lizard’ was beaten to death over two missing guns.

Justice Campbell also asked the jurors not to speculate or have any sympathy for anyone in the case.

He said the evidence must be the yardstick by which they judge the case.

Justice Campbell told the jurors that they should not be prejudiced by the ‘locking’ of guns in the case.

He said the accused men’s morals are not on trial.

The High Court judge is continuing is summation.

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