Jahshii’s lawyer questions charge after client’s trial

Attorney-at-law Thomas Levine, who represented dancehall entertainer Jahshii and popular music producer Dane Ray after they were charged with breaching COVID-19 protocols, has described the matter as a curious case.

Both music professionals had the charges against them admonished and discharged when they appeared in the Santa Cruz Petty Session Court on Monday to answer to charges for breaches of the Disaster Risk Management Act. The charges emanated from their arrest at an illegal party held on New Year's Eve in Leeds in the parish. They were charged for not wearing masks.

"What was presented to the court could not be contradicted by anyone who was there," he told THE STAR. He further reasoned that he did not challenge the facts of his clients' whereabouts at the material time.

"We do not take issue that there was a party but we take issue with how they came to be charged," he shared. He explained that both his clients were summoned from their motor vehicles and were taken to a senior police officer.

"The arresting officer was blunt in his statement. He saw them speaking to a senior officer and thereafter the senior officer gave instructions for them to be charged," he said. Levine said the presiding judge was taken aback with what the prosecution submitted and that it was in concurrence with his arguments for defence.

Dane Ray, whose given name is Waldane Hampton, was excited at the court's decision as he thought he and Jahshii were unfairly charged.

"Mi feel good fi know dem throw out the case. Dem just fling something pon we," he shared. He explained that Monday's appearance lasted sometime between 15 and 20 minutes before the judge ruled on the matter and set them free. Jahshii, whose given name is Mluleki Tafari Clarke, declined to be interviewed.