Kartel Trial Day 5: More Police Officers Take The Stand to Testify

The Senior Superintendent of police Cornwall Ford aka “Bigga Ford” took the witness stands today at the murder court case of popular dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, but not before Justice Lennox Campbell called for steps to be taken to make sure that co-accused Shane Williams, who is always late, showed up for court in time.

Williams’ late arrival delayed the proceedings for more than 30 minutes this morning.

Senior Superintendent of police Cornwall ‘Bigga’ Ford, who took the witness stand before, denied suggestions that the presence of the media with cameras at Kartel’s premises was part of a conspiracy to make sure a conviction for the artiste.

He told the court that he knew nothing about how the media got to the premises.

SSP Ford said he only received information that media was present when Kartel’s premises was searched in August 2011.

Fashion designer Calvin Haye, who was also charged in the case, was cleared from all charges and released on Wednesday after the prosecution found no evidence against him.

Attorney Tom Tavares-Finson, who along with his son Christian is representing Vybz Kartel, accused the police of leaking information to the media when the police had arrested Vybz Kartel and were taking him to his three properties in St Andrew and St Catherine to search for guns and unlawful property.

During his cross-examination of head of Senior Superintendent Cornwall ‘Bigga’ Ford — who heads the Flying Squad — Tavares-Finson suggested that the police had intentionally informed the media of the operation to prejudice the case against his client.

“Did you let know the press?” Tavares-Finson asked Ford.

“I had no communication with the press,” Ford replied.

“So, I take it you were alarmed when Mr Palmer was being paraded around on TV in handcuffs?” the lawyer added.

“Good news travels fast. I cannot speak for what the press does,” Ford answered.

“Mr Ford, I am suggesting that this is part of a police conspiracy to prejudice the trial of this man Adijah Palmer,” Tavares-Finson said.

He also suggested that the police had concocted a theory that a burnt-out, decomposed body was found at house on Swallowfield Avenue, which was owned by Vybz Kartel.

“Did you, Mr Ford, tell anybody that a decomposed body was found at Swallowfield Avenue?” he asked.

“No, sir, I am not authorised to speak on behalf of the police,” Ford replied.

Earlier, the lawyer suggested the same thing to Superintendent Winston Henderson and Detective Corporal Avrel Thomas, who also gave evidence.

Both officers denied having leaked any information to the press about the police operation or a burnt-out decomposing body.

Henderson also came under fire from lawyer Miguel Lorne, who represents Shawn ‘Storm’ Campbell.

Lorne asked Henderson if he had arrested Calvin Haye, who was acquitted on Wednesday, and his girlfriend, before releasing them days later and then re-arresting Haye again ten days later after naming him as a person of interest, before releasing him again.

Henderson denied this.

“Mr Henderson, you don’t know what you are doing? You pick up the man, release the man, pick him up back and then the man is dismissed. You are fishing,” Lorne stated.

Henderson testified that armed with three search warrants — two for illegal possession of a firearm and one for illegal possession of property — he led a joint police/military team to houses a Hacienda Drive in Norbrook in St Andrew, Swallowfield Avenue in Havendale, St Andrew and Independence City in Portmore, St Catherine which were owned by Vybz Kartel.

He said he seized 14 cellular phones and placed them in a secure place in his office to which no other person has access.

He said the phones were held at the Flying Squad headquarters at Harbour Street in downtown Kingston for two months because the police wanted to display them for people who had been robbed to find if any of the devices belonged to them.

The phones were then delivered to the Cyber Crimes Unit, Henderson said.

Evidence was also tendered by a sister of Williams, who admitted under cross-examination that her brother had been previously charged for illegal firearm possession and shooting with intent.

The sobbing witness also admitted, under cross-examination from Lorne, that her brother and Campbell were close friends and that he appeared in several music videos which featured Campbell’s dancehall brand of music.

“You know the popular term, he wanted to buss him or make him more famous?” Lorne asked.

To which the witness replied, “Yes.”

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