Police claim witnesses against Vybz Kartel intimidated

THE POLICE claim alleged witnesses in the high-profile murder case against deejay Adidja 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer are being intimidated and have given conflicting statements to the Office of the Public Defender.

Information gathered by the police in and around the Gregory Park area of St Catherine, as well as the 'Gaza' section of Waterford, unearthed acts of intimidation and threats against witnesses, including plainclothes police personnel.

Public Defender Earl Witter, when contacted on Saturday, gave a terse response in addressing the police's claims."I make no comment whatsoever on what you tell me or what your police sources have told you," Witter replied, refusing additional comment on the matter.

Allegations against the deejay are that he and other men had conspired to murder businessman Barrington 'Bossie' Burton, a 27-year-old promoter of a Gregory Park, St Catherine, address.

Burton was shot to death while standing in the company of other persons along Walker's Avenue in Gregory Park on July 11.

Vybz Kartel was arrested on September 30 and faces charges of conspiracy to murder, illegal possession of firearm and murder, as well as ganja possession, after a quantity of the drug was found when he was picked up by police at a New Kingston hotel while in the company of three other persons, including a female.

He has since pleaded not guilty to the ganja- possession charge and is set to face the court on the more serious offences.

In recent weeks, in addition to Vybz Kartel, Kyro Jones, André 'Mad Puss' St John and another man, known as 'Badda Dan' - all allegedly affiliated to the area known as 'Gaza' - have been arrested in connection with other charges, including shootings and murders. Laingberg 'Laing' McDonald was also arrested on a separate charge.

Among the police's claims of witness intimidation is that on the morning an identification parade was held in the murder case, gunmen staged an attack in the area where the murder took place.

In response, the St Catherine South Police rounded up "all known members of the Gaza gang", adding that "people have been scurrying for their lives, not into hiding but to public legal offices, as a way of getting out of the case".

Police sources have described the actions as "a challenge to law and order and police control," which have led to a continuous operation against the Gaza gang in Portmore and other places islandwide.

The St Catherine South police have since established a strong presence in communities bordering 'Gaza' in Waterford and the Gregory Park area.