From Caribbean360

The Jamaica Observer newspaper reported Friday that the death threats had been made to the DPP and the prosecution team and that security had been beefed up.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday April 4, 2014, CMC – The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, has confirmed that deaths threats have been made against her and members of the prosecution following the murder trial of Dance Hall singer Vybz Kartel who was jailed for life.

Kartel, whose real name is Adjidja Palmer, along with Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John, were found guilty on March 13 for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

Kartel is to serve 35 years in jail before he becomes eligible for parole, while Campbell and Jones will serve 25 years, and St John 30. They were sentenced on Thursday.

Police say Williams was killed over the disappearance of two missing firearms. His body has not been found.

The Jamaica Observer newspaper reported Friday that the death threats had been made to the DPP and the prosecution team and that security 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 told the newspaper.

“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 added.

Meanwhile, police Thursday issued a statement outlining a number of threats that were made 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.

“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 police statement said.

The home of Cybercrimes expert Detective Sergeant Patrick Linton was partly damaged after it was firebombed by unidentified persons who threw a Molotov cocktail.

“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 police said, adding threats were also made against the lives of staff members of a telecommunications company.

The authorities said that the vandalising of fibre-optic cables on the Mandela Highway was part of a ploy to carry out the threats

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/jamaica_news/1107422.html?utm_source=Caribbean360+Newsletters&utm_campaign=1c041c5927-Vol_9_Issue_068_News4_4_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_350247989a-1c041c5927-39393477#ixzz2xvxCKwzR