The Road To Freedom

The integrity of the phone evidence used to convict entertainer Vybz Kartel (proper name Adidja Palmer) and his co-accused is again being questioned by defence attorneys

The attorneys began their response to the prosecution's submission on Tuesday morning.

Attorney Isat Buchanan, in his submission to the Court of Appeal, argued that the “chop up fine” messages used by the prosecution to convict the entertainer, was modified while in police custody. He said the phone was accessed approximately five times while in police custody.

He argued that the messages used from Palmer’s phone were disjointed and that there was some stitching of the messages to facilitate a smooth flow.

Bianca Samuels, the attorney representing Shawn Campbell, argued that the trial judge, in his summation, admitted that the integrity of the phone had been compromised.

She said this evidence should not have reached the Jury.

She said the use of the phone while in police custody remains unexplained.

Defence attorneys were responding to submissions of the prosecution in the final day of the appeal hearing.

The Court of Appeal judges who have been listening to the arguments since last week, are to hand down their ruling at an unspecified date.