Kerran Monroe. Jamaica Entertainment Correspondent
Caribbean news. Vybz Kartel and his co accused finally had the chance to tell their side of the story. In unsworn statements from the dock; all five men pleaded their innocence. First up was Vybz Kartel who claimed conspiracy. Kartel asked the judge and jury to make a distinction between Vybz Kartel and Adidja Palmer. “My Lord, I bleach my skin and I am heavily tattooed also.
My Lord, that is merely superficial, that is the persona of Vybz Kartel, not Adidja Palmer. My Lord, I think you will agree.” He said. He continued “…sometimes a person can be judged by the way they look. My Lord, I am not an alien who came from space and landed on Earth. I am a normal man. I even have a family, some of which are here today, including my grandmother, cousin and mother-in-law.”
He also questioned the actions of National Security minister, Peter Bunting; whom he claimed took his music and image to Washington, DC; as a glorifier of scamming. He recounted the events that took place during his arrest and denied having anything to do with the alleged death of Lizard.
In his unsworn statement, Shawn Storm told the court that he is a trained mechanic, working with the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) for six years…(who knew?). Shawn Storm denied taking Lizard to Havendale on the day in question. He however, said he left the star witness at Kartel’s house and saw him later that night and the witness said nothing to him about what happened at Havendale.
Photo courtesy thesource.com
He continued saying, “My Lord, Madam forewoman and members of the jury, I am an innocent man, and what I would ask for is to get my life back so I can look after my sick mother and daughter and further my career as an artiste.”
Kahira Jones also pleaded his innocence. “I am not a murderer. Mr (star witness) and the police dem plan up to tell lie on we. Dem tell we seh dem a go send all a we a prison,” Jones said.
Shane Williams denied being a part of a video, the witness identified him in. Andre St. John followed the trend set by the previous co accused; in pleading innocence. He also appealed to emotions, stating that he is a single father of a six year old whose mother died in motor vehicle accident. He said that Lizard was not at Kartel’s Havendale home on the day in questioning.
