A juror in the Vybz Kartel trial testified last week that on two occasions, accused juror Livingston Caine tried to convince his colleagues to return a not-guity verdict in the entertainer’s murder trial, saying ‘they are prominent DJs and we must let them go home’.
The witness, who could not recall at what stage of the trial Caine made the statement, said that he made the statement on separate days.
She gave the testimony during her evidence-in-chief in the trial before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.
Allegations are that between the start of the murder trial in the Home Circuit Court on November 18, 2013 and the rendering of a verdict, Cain tried to persuade his fellow jurors to return a verdict of not guilty and even offered the jury forewoman $500,000 for a result in favour of Vybz Kartel and his co-accused.
The murder trial, which started in November 2013, concluded in March 2014 with Vybz Kartel and three other men convicted of the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. One man was acquitted. The convicted men were each given life sentences.
Cain was arrested and charged with five counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice and one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Cain’s trial had started in early 2015, but was put on hold many times.
During the cross-examination, the witness revealed that Caine was oftentimes quiet during their discussions and that he would leave whenever the court would break to tend to his business.
She, however said that she has never seen him behave differently from anyone else.
Caine’s attorney, Queen’s Counsel Valrie Neita-Robertson, objected on the basis of relevance and argued that there is nothing that speaks to her client’s behaviour in the statement.
Parish Court Judge Maxine Ellis then asked the witness to step outside.
Ellis later told the court that the Crown has its case.
Neita-Robertson argued that there are rules to be followed when the prosecution is taking evidence.
“There is no follow-up. She is carrying the witness to a place I don’t know. Depending on what she said, I would have to take further instructions from my client,” Neita-Robertson said.
The prosecutor then made an unsuccessful request to adjourn the matter for further disclosure.
The witness was later recalled.
The woman testified that, prior to the verdict, Caine told the foreman that he wanted to speak with her in private, and said that after 20 to 25 minutes the foreman returned to the juror room and said: “He approached me.”
She said that after the foreman consulted with a fellow juror she locked the door, took out her cellular phone and turned it on. She revealed that she was instructed to listen, which she did.
She further revealed to the court that the voice sounded similar to Caine’s voice and that the foreman subsequently reported it to the Clerk of Court.
The case is to continue on March 20.