Kartel issues statement from prison following death threats against journalists
From Caribbean360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday April 15, 2014, CMC – The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has condemned death threats sent to journalists who covered the murder trial of popular dancehall entertainer, Vybz Kartel, urging the police to ensure the safety of media workers.
Kartel in a statement from the prison where he is serving a life sentence for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, also urged “misguided individual or individuals” from making the threats, saying “such action is not helping me or my fellow appellants and is playing into the hands of the police and others who are seeking to discredit me and prejudice the fair hearing of my appeal.”
On Monday, the Jamaica Observer newspaper reported that its Crime/Court Desk Editor, Karyl Walker, had been receiving several threatening calls on his cellular phone after the paper published the latest article on the case on Sunday involving the entertainer.
Nationwide News Network said it reporter/producer Abka Fitz-Henley had also received death threats after the radio station aired the voice notes that were used by the prosecution in convicting the artiste and three co-accused — Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John — for the murder of Williams.
The Jamaica Observer reported that the journalists were not the only ones threatened following the trial.
It said that Sergeant Patrick Linton, the former cybercrime boss, who gave technical evidence in the matter, had received threats and there was an attempt to firebomb his house, while the director of public prosecutions and her team who handled the case also received death threats.
The PAJ in a statement released on Monday night said that “while it is not unusual for Jamaican journalists to be threatened because of their work” it views every threat seriously “and condemns those misguided members of the public who believe violence should be their reaction at all times whenever there is news or opinions which they do not support.
“The PAJ is also reminding journalists to continue doing their work without fear or favour, even as they make every effort to ensure their personal safety,” it added.
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, said he had been informed of the death threats by his legal team and reminded the country that “during my sentencing hearing, my attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson, indicated to the court that I hold no ill-will to any of the persons involved in my trial, neither the police, prosecutors, executives from Digicel and certainly not any member of the media who covered my trial in a manner which exposed the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case for all the world to see
“I reiterate the position, I hold no ill-will to anyone who was involved in my trial, and I put my faith in the judicial system and the appeal process on which we have now embarked. In the meantime I thank my family, friends and fans who continue to support and have faith in me,” he said.
The police had also commented on the death threats saying “it is regrettable that this has been the effect of individuals performing their professional duties, by highlighting the case and offering its coverage for public awareness”.
PHOTO CREDIT: COOLTV.WORDPRESS.COM
