Vybz Kartel denied bail

DANCEHALL entertainer Vybz Kartel was yesterday denied bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on a charge of possession of ganja.

Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey refused a bail application by attorney Michael Deans and ordered the deejay, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, to return to court on November 10 when the case will again be mentioned.

Pusey rejected the application on the basis that Palmer is facing charges of murder, conspiracy and illegal possession of a firearm, for which he is to appear before the Gun Court Division of the RM Court today.

The senior magistrate, however, invited the defence to renew the application in the event that the artiste is offered bail on the weightier matters.

Dressed in a grey and black vest, blue-and-white striped shirt and grey pants, Palmer did not appear as hyped up as he did on his first court appearance last week and stood with his hands behind him and his head bowed at times.

Following the proceedings, Chris Tavares-Finson, one of the lawyers representing Palmer, told the Observer that the defence is ready for trial in the ganja case.

"As far as we are concerned, if they want to go to trial with it, we are ready. We have all the statements; somebody has already pleaded guilty [for the ganja] and we don't see an issue as far as Mr Palmer is concerned," Tavares-Finson said.

Palmer was arrested two Fridays ago at a hotel in New Kingston by police from the Flying Squad at which time 4.3 ounces of ganja found. His co-accused, Alicia Jackson, last Friday pleaded guilty to possession of the ganja and was fined $500 or 30 days in jail. She paid the fine.

Source: jamaicaobserver