Kartel co-convict guilty of 2009 shooting
Published:Tuesday | July 6, 2021 | 12:11 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
KAHIRA JONES, one of three men handed mandatory life sentences alongside dancehall star Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer in 2014 for the beating death of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams three years earlier, was yesterday found guilty of the 2009 shooting of Chevallo Rodney in Waterford, Portmore.
The trial proceeded under Section 31(D) of the Evidence Act because Rodney, who survived the 2009 shooting and gave a statement to the police, was murdered two years ago at the same residence where he had been shot by Jones.
After three days of summation, High Court judge Lisa Palmer handed down her verdict in the Corporate Area Gun Court, finding Jones guilty of wounding with intent, illegal possession of firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition.
During the trial, the court heard evidence, led by Hodine Williams, that on the morning of December 15, 2009, Rodney was in his backyard when he was approached by Jones, who was known to him.
Jones asked Rodney for water before attacking him with a gun. During the struggle that ensued between the two men, Rodney was shot twice but managed to disarm Jones.
The prosecution closed its case after the court heard evidence from police personnel. The investigating officer was Jason McKay.
Jones took the stand in his defence after a lengthy no-case submission by defence counsel Kamika Harris was rejected by Justice Hamilton.
INVESTIGATIVE WORK
Reacting to the verdict, Homer Morgan, divisional detective inspector for the St Catherine South police, yesterday praised the investigating officer for persevering in the matter following the resignation and migration of the original investigator, who had to be flown into the island to testify.
“It’s good that we were able to carry through on the matter. We proceeded by Section 31(D) and that was good as it related to getting a conviction. I must give kudos to the investigator to whom we assigned the matter,” Morgan told The Gleaner.
Gleaner sources indicate that Rodney had applied to be part of the witness protection programme and was being kept elsewhere but had returned to the area where he met his demise.
Morgan said that Jones’ mandatory life sentence in the Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams death and yesterday’s verdict should send a warning to remnants of the Gaza gang still operating in Waterford.
“It should send a reminder that the justice system works. There are remnants of the gang that still exist, and I hope this second conviction sends a strong message that we will do all we can to put them behind bars as long as it might take,” he pointed out.
Jones was on bail for shooting Rodney when he was implicated in the killing of ‘Lizard’, along with Kartel, Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, and André St John.
All four men were convicted in April 2014 and handed mandatory life sentences in the 65-day trial.