Local attorney concerned for Jah Cure - Prosecution recommends eight-year sentence

Local attorney-at-law Christopher Townsend has expressed doubt about the enthusiasm of reggae star Jah Cure's attorney, following closing arguments yesterday in the entertainer's attempted murder case in the Netherlands.

The prosecution argued that the actions of Jah Cure, given name Siccaturie Alcock, were "premeditated" and portrayed the 43-year-old as a hot-tempered man who could have caused distress to the general public having attacked his accuser in broad daylight. Jah Cure was involved in a stabbing incident involving promoter Nicardo Blake in the Dam Square in Amsterdam last October.

"The suspect picked up a knife before the meeting with the victim, not to protect himself for wearing an expensive watch," the prosecutor stated. It was further argued that Jah Cure's claim of self-defence was questionable, and voice messages sent by the artiste to Blake were offered as evidence. One of the messages said, 'The last time you will live to diss man thing'. According to a witness, just before the stabbing incident, Jah Cure said on the Dam Square, 'This is the n****r I have to kill' and then made a stabbing motion, though the witness did not see a knife.

Attempts to get in contact with Jah Cure's lawyer, Tim Scheffer have been unsuccessful. But according to Het Parool, a daily Amsterdam newspaper, Scheffer was quoted as saying "My client wanted to talk it out and just wanted his money." Scheffer also aligned the way in which the messages were sent - prior to the stabbing - with Jamaican reggae culture.

But with inconclusive CCTV-footage, Townsend explained that the voice messages are going to be central to this case.

"If it is that the threats are the way they are fashioned, it would seem pretty direct and may give a clear intention. I am sure that is not all he said but certainly the extracts there suggests that he has quite a bit of evidence that points to guilt for the judges to look at. However, for Jah Cure's attorney to merely say that it is the Jamaican language, or Jamaican culture, is an inadequate response," Townsend informed THE STAR. "The way the prosecution's case is positioned, it sounds quite formidable and the comments by defence counsel seem to be a position where he may be preparing himself for an unfavourable verdict."

The prosecution has recommended an eight-year sentence. Frank Wattimena, press officer of the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service, told THE STAR that in cases like this, trials are conducted by a panel of three judges and that the prosecutor's recommendation is just a suggestion.

"It falls to the judges alone to decide," he said. The court is expected to deliver the verdict on March 22.