The wait [1] is finally over. The jury in the Vybz Kartel murder trial [2] reached a verdict earlier today: Guilty [3]. But the verdict itself is as rife with controversy as the trial had been [4].
Tweets from journalist and blogger [5] Emily Crooks [6] were coming seconds apart, as she reported on the situation in downtown Kingston [7]:
Lawyers have been summoned to judge's chamber.
Tension inside; Tension outside. No hallelujah in the middle
#KartelMurderTrial [8]
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 13, 2014 [9]
Some of her tweets contained photos of Kartel's supporters gathering outside the court; others showed the heavy police presence in the island's capital:
NOW – Part of the #KartelCrowd [10] – downtown Kingston pic.twitter.com/oTNmqJVlmF [11]
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 13, 2014 [12]
NOW- Police everywhere. This is King Street immediately in front of Supreme Court
#KartelMurderTrial [8] pic.twitter.com/KHCqFJy7Fz [13]
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 13, 2014 [14]
Earlier in the afternoon, there was speculation as to whether the judge was even inclined to hand over the case to the jury – the tension outside the court was palpable:
Calm on the inside now. Tension on the outside
#KartelMurderTrial [8] pic.twitter.com/n0oJElWnHy [15]
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 13, 2014 [16]
Anticipation on social media mounted once Crooks tweeted that the judge had indeed sent the jury to deliberate:
BREAKING – at 3:42PM on the 13th March, 2014 Justice Lennox Campbell has sent the jury out to decide Kartel's fate!
#KartelMurderTrial [8]
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 13, 2014 [17]
Soon, Crooks began crunching the numbers when it came to the way the jury would vote:
My note – However after 2 hours, judge can accept majority of not less than 9:3. Interesting here as panel is 11 not 12
#KartelMurderTrial [8]
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 13, 2014 [18]
As it turned out, the jury came back with a 10:1 guilty verdict [19] amidst rumours that one of the jurors attempted to bribe the others [20]. Sadly, the hearsay turned out to be true [21]:
Breaking – police were lined up here to arrest juror number 3, a male for attempting to bribe others jurors
#KartelMurderTrial [8]
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 13, 2014 [22]
In the end, the attempt didn't affect the outcome of the trial and word soon began to spread [23] about the decision of the jury [24]:
Adidja Palmer – GUILTY
Shawn Campbell – GUILTY
Kahira Jones – GUILTY
Shane Williams – Not GUILTY
Andre St John – GUILTY
Kartel, 38, whose real name is Adidja Palmer and his co-accused went on trial on November 20 in the Home Circuit Court.
Emily Crooks tweeted the judge's response to the outcome:
Judge to jury-'i will say this u couldn't have done anything else on this evidence presented here. It was not possible'
#KartelMurderTrial [8]
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 13, 2014 [25]
Then the action really started, as Kartel's supporters, not liking the decision, became more vocal:
NOW -Shouts coming from Tower Street now 'we waan Kartel'
Police closing in on the crowd gathered there
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 13, 2014 [26]
The situation continued to escalate; up to two hours ago, protests were still taking place:
Police directing traffic away from King Street now as bottles are being thrown – police say
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) March 14, 2014 [27]
Some netizens seemed overwhelmed by the barrage of information on the breaking story, while others joked about it:
My TL moving too fast…I can't keep up #VybzKartelMurderTrial [28]
— SonLoray (@sonloray) March 13, 2014 [29]
That Emily Crooks lady should thank the #VybzKartelMurderTrial [28] for 87% of her followers. LOL
— Matthew Allan (@Besses) March 13, 2014 [30]
Dancehall Worldwide [31] shared a video on Facebook that demonstrated the anger of the crowd:
Some Twitter users were irritated by the protests:
Some wata dem want.. Police need fi tun on di hose dem. RT @I_Got_kush_ [33]: People like rice #VybzKartelMurderTrial [28]
— #InstigatorOF (-_-) (@WhytesWorld) March 13, 2014 [34]
…while other entrepreneurial types made the most of the situation on the streets:
Lol@Da_MoneyJunkie: Meanwhile on Facebook.. Dwl I swear, Jamaicans a real sample enuh lmaoo!!
#VybzKartelMurderTrial [28] pic.twitter.com/EFzXDYmIRi [35]"
— ♛Nigh†N∪R∫∃♕ (@BrowneyezForeva) March 13, 2014 [36]
The calls for Kartel's freedom continued, and dominated the evening's news coverage:
Listening to Nationwide News at 5pm … the chants of FREE WORLD BOSS are deafening #VybzKartelMurderTrial [28]
— RickyRich (@rickjam) March 13, 2014 [37]
On Facebook, blogger Annie Paul, who was also following the trial, observed [38] that amidst all the hype of the trial, the murder victim was somehow dismissed from being top of mind:
really glad i caught the tail end of @djmillerJA's interview w Lizard William's sister, he really has been forgotten in all this.
She quipped [39]:
Scandal going to seem tame tonight after #KartelMurderTrial verdict…#Guilty