Shawn Storm Won’t be Able to Get a Fair Retrial Because of Bloggers Like Sir P, According to Family and Attorneys
As the hearing to decide the fate of Dancehall artiste Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell begins, Cambell’s attorneys argued in court on Monday that the deejay will not get a fair retrial because of the opinions spread by bloggers such as Sir P.
The murder convictions of Cambell, Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer, Andre St. John, and Kahira Jones were overturned in March by the Privy Council. The Jamaica Court of Appeal must now decide if the men are to be set free or retried for the 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
The Court of Appeal began hearing submissions this morning, with attorneys representing Campbell presenting an affidavit from the artiste’s sister arguing that he may not receive a fair retrial if they chose to do so.
In response to the affidavit, Claudette Thompson, the acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), countered that there are arguments and pleadings included in the affidavit that should not be allowed in the statement.
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However, the presiding judges allowed the arguments to stand, rejecting the DPP’s objections. The affidavit highlighted the Politricks Watch YouTube channel run by anonymous vlogger Sir P that has covered the Clive Williams murder case on several occasions.
It further stated that bloggers such as Sir P, with no journalistic background, have greatly influenced public perception of the matter before the court. As such, the Jamaican jury system will not be able to empanel an impartial jury.
Additionally, the deejay’s family has shared that they do not have sufficient funds to facilitate a retrial in a justice system that has been described as unjust.
While Justice McDonald Bishop allowed the arguments in the affidavit to stand as they were, the presiding judges have stated that they reserve the right to revisit any preliminary ruling on the DPP’s initial objections.
The hearing in the Court of Appeal is expected to last five days.
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