Jah Cure back behind prison walls - Lawyer said singer never wanted to kill anybody

One of the lawyers who represented reggae artiste Jah Cure during his recent trial in Amsterdam has described the ordeal that has landed the entertainer behind bars as "stressful and emotional".

The Unconditional Love singer was yesterday sentenced to serve six years in an Amsterdam prison having been found guilty of attempted manslaughter.

"I will discuss the verdict with him to see if an appeal is useful. Jah Cure says he never wanted to kill anybody," said Jan-Hein Kuijpers, a member of the artiste's legal team.

Jah Cure, whose real name is Siccaturie Alcock, was facing attempted murder, attempted manslaughter, aggravated assault or attempted aggravated assault in relation to a stabbing incident involving event promoter Nicardo 'Papa' Blake on October 1 at Dam Square, in Amsterdam.

The court found him not guilty of attempted murder and his claim of self-defence was rejected by the court.

Reacting to the development, Tamekia Whittaker, one Jah Cure's back-up singers, said that the news of his conviction hit hard.

"It is really sad. I just heard the news from my brother [who also does back-up singing for Jah Cure]. The truth is that a lot of people don't know who the real Jah Cure is. I have been on tour with him and I know the kind-hearted side of Jah Cure, which is different from the social media side that a lot of people see," Whittaker said.

She noted that when Jah Cure and his band travelled anywhere in the world they were "like family".

"We love him; we know him and we just want to put love out there. He has a little daughter and she is his world. I feel it for her. I am hoping that he will come back triumphant," she added.

Jah Cure was invited to Amsterdam to perform at a concert which was promoted by Blake. Jah Cure told the court that he stabbed Blake in self-defence, a submission that has been rejected by the court.

The entertainer, who spent eight years in prison in Jamaica on a rape charge, is being held at an undisclosed detention centre outside of Amsterdam since October 2021.