KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Police High Command on Thursday issued a statement on the case involving Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer and his co-accused.
See the full text below:
The Police High Command takes this opportunity to commend the members of the Constabulary who were involved in the investigation and recently concluded murder trial of Adidjah Palmer et al. The case generated a considerable amount of public interest and was fraught with challenges for the Police and all others who worked in support of the prosecution to achieve the outcome that was sought. This opportunity is being taken to highlight the fact that this result came only through excellent teamwork on the parts of numerous individuals within and outside of the Constabulary, in particular, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
This landmark case has broken several new frontiers for the Constabulary, most notably in the area of forensic evidence, and in particular, the collection, handling and presentation of evidence from digital devices. Despite challenges from the defence, the digital evidence successfully tied the accused persons to the crime. However, as the trial progressed, opportunities were presented for the Police to assess the soundness of the techniques and procedures used in the handling of digital evidence, and significant steps are already underway to improve Police professionalism in this area.
The case also presented numerous security challenges, which resulted in a considerable amount of resources being deployed to protect the prosecutor, prosecution witnesses, including Police officers, and relatives of the victim. In the aftermath of the trial, additional resources have had to be found to protect some members of the jury. Numerous persons connected to the case in one way or another on the side of the prosecution have expressed concerns about their personal security. In the face of the myriad of challenges, intimidatory tactics and threats to prosecution witnesses throughout the trial, the prosecution could not make a single complaint due to the possibility that it could undermine the right of the accused to a fair trial. Now that the trial is over, we are under no further obligation to remain silent about the challenges and threats endured by the prosecution.
Attempts to Pervert the Course of Justice
During the trial, a number of developments took place which we are now at liberty to highlight. These developments were focused primarily around attempts to pervert the course of justice. First, we would like to highlight that very early during the investigation, it emerged that a female DJ was allegedly instructed by Adidjah Palmer via SMS (text messages) to make a report to the Constant Spring Police Station alleging that she was held up and robbed by Clive Williams, the man we knew at the time to be dead. This matter was investigated by the Police and placed before the court, but was adjourned pending the outcome of the murder trial. This case will be back before the court on June 6, 2014.
Based on material extracted from the cellular phones of the convicted men we became aware that Mr Palmer had become very concerned about the presence of Scenes of Crime investigators gathering evidence at the crime scene at 7 Swallowfield Avenue, St. Andrew. Shortly afterwards, the house was mysteriously torched but there were no signs of any similar concern by Mr. Palmer about the destruction of his residence. The examination done by the Government Forensic Laboratory revealed that the fire was deliberately set as the evidence collected was not consistent with an accidental or non-deliberate fire. Traces of gasoline were found in different sections of the house and on items of furniture.
Another significant development concerned the letter that was purportedly written by the main prosecution witness, Lamar Chow, and submitted to the Public Defender. It must be placed on record that this letter was not written by Mr. Chow. It was quite clear that the preparation of the letter benefitted from interaction with a person who had legal training. When the letter was brought to the attention of the Police, we subtly tested the extent of Mr. Chow’s vocabulary and found that he was not familiar with the legal jargons that were in the letter. We further submitted the letter to the JCF Questioned Document Examiner (handwriting expert) who, with the use of the latest computer software that is developed for this purpose, examined the document and concluded that it could never have been written by Mr. Chow. As the science develops, the Police have acquired new computer software which is among the newest tools that are used in the examination of handwriting and other specimen, and it is much more likely to produce an accurate result than examinations done with the naked eye and a mere magnifying glass.
It is noteworthy that the same tactic (presenting a letter to the Public Defender with claims that a witness statement was not voluntary) was used in a previous murder case against Vybz Kartel which contributed to the collapse of that case. A criminal investigation is to be launched to find the person responsible for the production and presentation of the forged letter to the Office of the Public Defender.
Yet another significant development came during the testimony of Detective Sergeant Patrick Linton when it was discovered that his Facebook account was hacked into and postings made to give the impression that the Detective Sergeant held personal grudges against the main accused, Mr. Palmer. The Police had credible information about the hacker and took steps to conduct an investigation into the matter. However, based on legal advice, and out of an abundance of caution, certain aspects of the investigation were suspended to avoid any chance of the jury being prejudiced.
Threats against Prosecution Witnesses
Numerous threats were issued to several persons who had appeared, or were slated to appear as prosecution witnesses. The main prosecution witness had to be kept in protective custody prior to and for the duration of the trial due to several threats against his life and promises that he would be rewarded should he refuse to cooperate with the prosecution. He is still in protective custody. Relatives of the deceased have also been threatened and have to be protected by the State. Additionally, several Police officers have received threats and the homes of at least 2 have been visited by unknown persons who have in some instances, made enquiries regarding the officers and their families. Actual steps have been made to carry out the threats in relation to one of the officers.
Following the testimony of Detective Sergeant Linton, an attempt was made to fire bomb his home when unidentified persons threw a Molotov cocktail at his house resulting in the destruction of a section of the perimeter fencing. Subsequently, unknown persons returned to his house where they left a bag containing photographs of the Detective Sergeant, a cow eye and a cow tongue with his name written on it. It is to be noted that this ritual is practiced in other countries around the world as a warning to witnesses in court cases to keep their silence.
Threats made to the staff of one of the major telecommunications provider resulted in fear and serious concerns among the staff who were forced to avoid wearing any clothing or paraphernalia that identified them as a part of the company. The Police have credible information that actual steps were taken to materialise some of the threats, resulting in the destruction of several meters of cable used by the telecommunication provider along the Mandela Highway resulting in denial of service to thousands of customers.
Intelligence suggests that numerous persons were paid to show up in the precincts of the court to show support for Vybz Kartel and create disorder during the closing stages of the trial. The Police had to take steps to secure the court by closing off certain sections of the road and deploying a riot squad.
The last attempt that the Police is aware of represents allegations against Livingston Cain of attempting to bribe his colleague jurors with hundreds of thousands of dollars into returning a not
guilty verdict. The case against Mr Cain will next be heard in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate Court on April 24, 2014.
High Command is pleased with the sentence and hopes it will provide the murderers with the time needed to reflect upon the pain and shame they have inflicted on their families and the society.
Talk di tings dem! Tere, it’s all here in print for the ones who a gwaan like dem cyaan put two and two togedda.
Now wi can see what the judiciary were working against. New time for Jamaica!
Bless. No matter what they say about our administrators, better must come, in all due time. “one, one coco full basket”.
True. I just want Jamaica and the reputation of its people and descendants to get back to what it was. We were generally seen as a people who stood for what is right and couldn’t take over familiarity. Now any old krebbeh can think that they can push up because they know too many of our weaknesses, one of which is that too many of us hide behind the “only God can judge” motto and a propensity for the undereducated amongst us to harbour latent criminality ( and mi nah talk tiefing food to feed the family ) and being loud with it, too.
I’m glad that those who have the foresight to see that “two wrongs don’t make a right” (meaning fighting corruption with corruption and criminality) finally have the space to speak up. It is the start that wi need. Then wi can deal with the “hands out’ mentality that I fear may have been perpetuated by kindness and obligation of us sending money back home to relatives, even if dem nuh spend di money pon anything constructive. But that is another argument for another day.
Suh di constibulary force get all new crime fighting equipments an di criminals Neva know lmaoooooo
pow pow pow unda di bugga dem
Gaza slim dere’s still time to change up yuh folly grounds an mend yuh crooked ways #shit is serious
lololol…de acrylic and nail glue have she all phuck up.
Di new handwriting machine more credible dan finson witness loll
dat deh expert deh lose him work over money….damn criminal
BAP BAP BAP
deddin :ngakak
Mi se di way Finson bad nuh bbcrcpc him rise up di man facebook di morning because mi scrape off Linton picture…a so dem draw fi di hacker no sah JCF duh dem work
Following the testimony of Detective Sergeant Linton, an attempt was made to fire bomb his home when unidentified persons threw a Molotov cocktail at his house resulting in the destruction of a section of the perimeter fencing. Subsequently, unknown persons returned to his house where they left a bag containing photographs of the Detective Sergeant, a cow eye and a cow tongue with his name written on it. It is to be noted that this ritual is practiced in other countries around the world as a warning to witnesses in court cases to keep their silence.
All the obeah dem try!!! Them dada woman Nuh stand a chance up against the man upstairs.
met u a tell mi seh, all a diss did a gwaan???
mi seh all of these acts should be fully investigated 100%. mi want si finson inna prison, mi want si di gaza sheep dem inna prison weh try fi intimidate di witness an di family.
Lundun all Busta fi pick up a charge see whey mi did a tell unno deh get confirm…dem did a pay di people dem fi gwaan bad
Lundun dem did a gwaan bad das y Finson tried to shut up the police because a whole heep dem did a gwaan wid and he knew if the police continued to talk dem wudda neva even wait one minute fi pass di guility verdict
Dem fail fi read JMG, cause dem would a hear see kongo drum a prayers a protect all who seeked justice in this case.
Amen! God above all a demmmmmm
mi woulda like dem release some a di evidence weh dem ave to di public. mi want hear di voice note dem an mi want si di video
Yuh mean Gaza Slime
Met that means that Chow’s aunt, the author of the letter who was under tutelage by Finson with the legal phraseology a guh get charged tuh?
Yuh want bet mi sey the father and son team end up lose them law license eventually? A dem set up the juror fi bribe his peers? They might not have directly confronted him but only God can tell mi dem never facilitate the meeting/bribery.
Kartel camp guh to some uncommon measures like the mafia fi secure that not guilty verdict. Every time mi start feel an ounce a sympathy fi da demon ya mi realize my sympathy is misplaced.
MI SEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH DEM GOING DOWN
Whey mi tell unno!!!
Which appeal dem gwine in now?????????????? :travel
Him kill any chance of an appeal with all this revelation. Better him di plead fi him life like a bitch! Dem act tough a road and can’t survive prison. Wasn’t it rumored at one point that Shawn Storm was on the verge of losing his sanity? Them a guh mad!
Dem nuh mad yet dem gwine cook dem one another for lack of better meat in dere
met…is one thing for us to suggest that such and such mussi a gwaan, but to see it here in plain plain official terms sends chills down the spine. This can only mean that the Judiciary are well aware of the other people that Kartel had killed and were damn tired of him getting away with it time and again.
At least if the police were dealing with an outright self proclaimed “Don” dem wudda know what fi expect. But an entertainer and a mad one at that? If kartel was intelligent, he would accept that he has gotten away with nuff tings and that his “foes” have finally caught up with him.
Yupppppppppppppp when the case started and bigga ford made his statement if u remember…his statement said it all..dem tired a him…fi jermey taylor read di psalm it showed that there was a big spiritual fight behind all a it…a him mi waa link mi one a way
lololol…………Me thank Kartel fi expose de breed of idiots in we society……lol. Dem set yah census did miss to rass over de decades…dark and fool pass limit.
Suh a how much bad man him have pon him payroll? Cos a 5 incarcerated, 1 dead, Lamar in witness protection….and him still have that many people a wreck havoc fi him?
A nuff a dem pon de payroll. If yuh ongle yuh knew. Him av Tesha Miller hungry cronies dem tuh. All a de DeLa Vega fool dem who still a kill fi collect tesha money from de taxi driva dem and roun de bus park. It still a gwaan like bizniz as usual even dwoah Tesha de a jail a florida.
Kunta, is re-entry he’s being held for? A him fi get life without parole a Florida. Unless he also had a hit on him in Ja, I don’t see why he ran to the states.
Tesha run come a farrin fi hide from ppl who want tek it tuh him. Dem did rub out him deputy a yute name Rodrik and kill him sista and him ketch him fraid. Him claim seh a money him come fi mek cause him did deh a NY an leff guh MA and den leff guh FL. All de while mi hear seh him still a live pon phone anna gi orda. If Tesha did stay a road too long a farrin, him wudden si de summa. Some ppl did well want fi rub him out.
ICE got that one on lock.
This is absolute madness. I hope now that Kartell got his sentence, the craziness will stop. I was downtown in the market earlier and you should have heard the people them there. It was basically a “serve that f–ker right” atmosphere. A lot of people in Jamaica are happy that justice have been served.
thats exactly what I heard…all who did a weep were paid to do so..NOBODY DONT LIKE HIM
Good. It’s because of the large minority of rabble why the majority cannot express themselves.
@ Pattypage, Wow I’m impressed with the overall sentiment in JA. I mean only a dummy or blinded fanatic would believe that man was innocent.
what i dont get is how a case as phuck’n c-rus as dis ppl did a play round wid all chow aunty she weh a try sell out har own fi a small change weh just might mek a big change inna har life behind bars fi a life seh yea him write nd send…dese ppl amaze mi more while is like dem feget seh jus like dem rest wurl wi all bleed phucking RED……smfh
met u know seh finson is sumwhat like kartel, him swear him a boss.
i remember during di case, when finson did a draw fi di pisspot hacker boy, mi seh to miself, but diss luk suspect, cuz a whole heap a hacking gwaan, an unno a use a criminal hacker as a witness? mi neva like deh move deh, it to me, showed shady business. why dem neva call a professional, that was trained in detecting hacking juss like dem did call di so called government professional handwriting expert?
The hacker was never a witness he only ran into court with the complain because he knew what the young man did and did a try mek di police look bad
oh ok, i get u, again finson did a use pisspot fi draw out di ting and waste time?
i see
Yes remember we did summize seh a bay tactics him did a use and a tink all nationwide news him did a try use as an outlet against the JCF…mi waa see how di JCF go haul out him and di rest
Met, for the record. Geishell have no chance of winning an appeal. There has to be grounds for an appeal. This judge ensured there were no grounds for an appeal with his summation, not leaving out any evidence and took great liberty to explain to the jury not to use Jamaica crime situation to influence their decision. That is the reason for the length of his summation.
The case dragged because he allowed the defense attorneys to bring forth any evidence they wanted, even allowing the fraud letter to be presented.
Geishell have no chance. No procedural errors, no illegal attained evidence, not a damn ting.
I knew from my sources three yrs ago that the police had acquired some real technology to fight crime. Most still don’t even complete training to use some of the technology. The police dem gawn bout 5 steps of criminals. The problem is now wid the corrupt police personnel who dem trying to identify and kick out de force.
Seriously, all Bigga Ford suspect.
yes but I think bigga ford sell him a trick jus fi tek a money offa him…mi cyah wait fi hear di res
When Geishell realise dem did a nyam out him money him start link street people fi do di tings :hammer
Met, one ting mi know fi certain, this is not like ole time case weh as dem get a verdict de investigation dun. The police dem determine fi guh tuh de root of this case.
Anybody even close tuh it a get a visit from police. The fact dat Lizard’s body is still unaccounted for keep de case alive.
Dem want fi know all de ppl who involved inna de disappearance of Lizard body. Dem want fi know who orda and orchestrated de fraud de letter. Yuh nuh si dem seh de letter was written with legal training. Dem investigataz ya step up.
Somebody gwine affi talk. GazaSlime, PimPim, de yute weh get weh and still have de murder case. Pressha buss pipe and de investigataz dem not stopping till dem find out everything.
she betta go wink off di police and go talk a doe sorry fi pimpim
Met, not even a deep throat gargle JCF man dem nu want from dat! Dem gal de infested wid saltness alone.
:tkp