Vybz Kartel’s lead attorney Tom Tavares-Finson is questioning the credibility of a juror who claims she is in the witness protection program.
A female juror contacted the Gleaner over the weekend claiming that she was forced to go into witness protection because she is in fear for her life. Tom Tavares-Finson has shared his reaction by raising the same question that most of us have. The Queen’s Counsel and attorney and attorney-at-law asked how did the newspaper get into contact with someone who is suppose to disappear from the face of the earth.
Tavares-Finson expressed how frightening it is to know that the media could so easily get into contact with the female juror who claimed that she is now living overseas under a new secret identity.
The seasoned lawyer is also questioning the timing of the statements made by the juror which is around the time when the appeal court judges are deliberating Vybz Kartel‘s appeal. He expressed that the juror’s interview with the Gleaner is calculated and was done to prejudice Kartel’s appeal.
Tavares-Finson made it clear that the juror’s recent statements will not affect the ruling handed down by the appeal court since those judges are of the highest integrity and know how to ignore matters like these when handing down their verdict.
In the damning article, the female juror, who was among the 11-member jury that found Vybz Kartel guilty of murder, says her life has been hard since the 2014 murder trial. She says that at one point she contemplated suicide as a means to escape the nightmare she is living in. She revealed that she is unable to spend Christmas and other holidays with her family and can only meet with them once a year at a secret location.
Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, and his three co-accused, Shawn “Storm” Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones are currently serving life for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams.
