Vybz Kartel, Shawn Storm, and co-accused “hoping for the best” ahead of Privy Council ruling March 14

After 13 years behind bars, Dancehall deejays Vybz Kartel and Shawn Storm along with their co-accused are expected to know their fate next week as the Privy Council has announced that a ruling in the appeal to overturn the murder conviction will be handed down on Thursday, March 14.

Bert Samuels, attorney at law representing Shawn Storm says they’re hoping for the best.

The Privy Council’s decision comes just over a month after court proceedings concluded after specific details regarding the case were heard in the United Kingdom on February 14 and 15. It was expected that the final decision could take up to 12 weeks.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the Jamaican judicial system, Bert Samuels said that the entire process involving the Privy Council will serve as a guideline especially as it relates to jury tampering in the future.

After a trial lasting 64 days before the trial judge and a jury in the Home Circuit Court, Vybz Kartel and his co-accused including Shawn Storm were convicted of the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams, who was reportedly killed on August 16, 2011.

The police took Kartel and his co-accused into custody on September 30 2011. They were handed life sentences in March 2014.

Their appeal was dismissed in Jamaica’s Court of Appeal before the matter was brought to the Privy Council in the UK.

The men are seeking to have their life sentences overturned, on the basis that the trial in the Kingston Home Circuit Court, was allegedly compromised. Among the claims are that crucial cell phone evidence was improperly obtained and also allegations of a juror seeking to bribe others by offering J$500,000 for a particular outcome.

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