VYBZ KARTEL APPEAL: Defence urge judges not to order retrial

The three judges hearing the Vybz Kartel appeal have been urged to set aside the convictions and life sentences.

Attorney at law Bert Samuels, who is represented on of the convicts, Shawn Storm, asked the Appeal Court not to order a retrial.

According to Samuels, the case is rife with multiple deficiencies, and "these defects are incurable."

"Any attempt to cure them for retrial purposes would be to give the prosecution a second bite at an infected cherry," Samuels continued.

Added Samuels: "A second chance to make good on the evidence deficiency in the case."

IN PHOTO: Entertainers Vybz Kartel and Shawn Storm leave the Home Circuit Court in Kingston after the were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014.

Shawn Storm, whose real name is Shawn Campbell, was convicted of murder in 2014, along with his mentor, top entertainer Vybz Kartel, Kahira Jones and Andre St John, for killing Clive 'Lizard' Williams at a house in Havendale, St Andrew in August 2011.

They were all given the mandatory life sentence with Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, ordered to serve 35 years before he is eligible for parole. Campbell, Jones and St John were ordered to each serve 25 years before they become eligible for parole.

Valerie Neita-Robertson, the lead attorney for Vybz Kartel, is now presenting her legal arguments.