DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn has confirmed that she and members of her prosecution team have received death threats after the guilty verdict of Vybz Kartel and his three co-accused for the murder of former associate Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
The Jamaica Observer was reliably informed that Llewellyn had been threatened on the weekend and security around her had been beefed up.
“During the course of this trial we have had threats during the course of our jobs; we have to do our jobs, we have to do it without fear or favour. We suffered threats as well but we have had to ignore it. The police, at every turn, responded immediately. We have had to beef up security around the prosecution,” Llewellyn said yesterday.
She said despite popular perception, prosecutors are not hell-bent on sending accused people to prison and begged for the public’s understanding.
“I would appeal to the public to appreciate that we have a job to do as professionals. We don’t take it personally. We have an obligation as ministers of justice to make sure that everything is fair to the defendant. We cannot be intimidated. We are salaried public servants doing a job that we are committed to doing. If we get a conviction or if someone is acquitted we get the same salary,” she said.
Yesterday, the police issued a release outlining a number of threats that were levelled against prosecution witnesses during the trial.
The police said the main prosecution witness, Lamar Chow, is still in protective custody due to several threats against his life and promises that he would be rewarded if he refused to co-operate with the prosecution.
Threats have also been issued against the life of the murder victim’s sister, who gave evidence during the trial, as well as other relatives.
The police were not exempt.
“Several police officers have received threats and the homes of at least two 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,” the release stated.
The home Cybercrimes expert Detective Sergeant Patrick Linton was firebombed by unidentified persons who threw a Molotov cocktail, 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 practised in other countries around the world as a warning to witnesses in court cases to keep their silence,” the release said.
The police said threats were also made against the lives of staff members of a telecommunications company and said the vandalising of fibre-optic cables on the Mandela Highway was part of a ploy to carry out the threats.
The cops also report that their intelligence suggested that persons were paid to show up in the precincts of the court to show support for Adidja Palmer and create disorder during the closing stages of the trial.
Only security they need is them machine plus make a few calls too cause we all got a few goons in the cut waiting for shit like this to pop off. As mi dun seh…keep God first and close and yuh machine even closer…May the good Lord continue to protect Mrs.Llewellyn and the entire prosecution team, witnesses and their famiies :angel :angel :angel
Selah!
ppl should respect the laws of the land. If anyone so much as cast a pebble at
Ms. Llewellyn, et al and their loved ones, law enforcement should exhaust all resources to bring them to justice. Kartel demons need to stop. Enough already.
Mi waa know with all whey Kartel and him people dem pull if he thought the police would ease up on him? Dem neva think fi one minute that all this wudda mek dem press harder fi put him ina jail?
Mek them even pitch stone inna the prosecution direction. Hell n powda house fi all know criminals. These dunce bats don’t understand nothing but dem belly.
Any how dem go de me would fully support any and all tactics taken by the government. Phuck JFJ and any international body whey nah go like de backlash. This bullshit these people a program is a death warrant inna other countries. I would go North Korean on dem backside!
dem fi dash whey di key pan dem
De big crotches oman dem inna him family should be telling these idiots fi go a dem yaad and go seek life. Cause dem speech, threats and actions a bury him more.
If him have an iota of getting his sentence reduce (case will never be overturned…lol) it ago out the window in a shitpan quickly.
Let us not forget the other murdered victim, Portmore resident Barrington ‘Bossie’ Bryan. Kartel was able to beat this murder case last year due to certain things that went down. I’m sure there are other victims out there too.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/News/Kartel-freed-on-murder-charge
Anon, Why you think Chow will constantly get big up? That case went to the wayside because of lack of witnesses. As long as we have people willing to go to court criminals will take heed.
Is a lie when dem use the propaganda that witnesses cannot be protected by the JCF. They can as long as they are willing to go through the process. Often times is the witness bait them self.