Kartel’s appeal very good – lawyer – Judgments usually delivered on a Friday

One of the senior attorneys for Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer says that while the appeal is taking “too long”, she is confident that she and her colleagues delivered “a very good appeal”.

“Of course, we are always hopeful. There are no guarantees that a client will be acquitted, but to my mind, it is a very good appeal,” Valerie Neita-Robertson told The STAR.

Alluding to the process that takes places after the attorneys have had their day in court, Neita-Robertson stated, “After we present our argument, they have to read it through again. And remember that it is four accused. When they (the judges) have finished writing the judgment and have it printed, they will call all the attorneys and say it is ready.”

She noted that judgments are usually handed down on a Friday, therefore, the call would come through on the Monday “or by Wednesday the latest”.

When The STAR spoke to Neita-Robertson on Monday afternoon, she was yet to receive any such call.

In a letter to Vybz Kartel’s lead attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson, dated December 2, 2019, the Court of Appeal indicated that a ruling would be handed down soon in relation to Kartel’s appeal of his murder conviction. The letter was copied to other attorneys in the case.

The appeal hearing got under way in July 2018.

Vybz Kartel and his co-accused Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John were convicted in 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

They were all given mandatory life sentences, and Kartel ordered to serve 35 years before being eligible for parole.

Campbell, Jones and St John were ordered to each serve 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.

“When they are ready, they will call us. It’s very long, too long. But what can we do but wait,” Neita-Robertson said.