Appeal Court concerned about stalled retrials amid Vybz Kartel case

The Court of Appeal has expressed serious concerns about the prosecution's push for a murder retrial in the Vybz Kartel case while two murder-related cases sent back for retrial, one in 2022 and the other in 2023, are yet to get trial dates.

"It has been bothering me...I am very concerned," said lead judge Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop.

She said it appeared the prosecution was more interested in pursuing the case involving Kartel and his three co-accused who are charged with the 2011 murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams.

The judge asked what is so significant about Lizard's killing that is not present in the case involving former policeman Rushon Hamilton who is accused of the murder of a 14-year-old pregnant girl.

His case was sent back in September 2023.

The judge noted that the other case involves Trevor Taffe who is awaiting retrial for the alleged beheading of his common-law spouse.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson told the court that the prosecution is not focused on the victims of the crime but the circumstances of the Crown.

She said there is no "premium" being placed on the Kartel case.

The senior prosecutor told the court that the State is simply ready to go ahead with the case if a retrial is ordered.

She said the Crown is ready for the matter to proceed as early as September 2024, although she noted that the Supreme Court could accommodate it in early 2025. 

Thompson also said witnesses are ready.

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