Vybz Kartel ordered murders by phone, witness testifies

In a jaw dropping revelation yesterday during the One Don Gang trial, a former high-placed gangster testified that incarcerated dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel had reportedly secured the services of the gang to murder three persons including a fellow entertainer.

According to the witness, "This instruction was given to me by Vybz Kartel by phone." The former gang member said two of the targets were killed in a double murder in Waterford, St Catherine. But he said, the entertainer's life was spared as the hit had failed.

The witness, who is testifying in the Home Circuit Court via video link, is yet to share the name of the entertainer. The shocking testimony came while the witness was detailing his encounter with the alleged gangster who he said was the driver in the three incidents. Defendant Jahzeal Blake, who is known to the witness as 'Squeeze Eye' was named as the designated driver in those incidents.

In further testimony pertaining to the popular dancehall artiste, the witness told the court that the One Don Gang reputed leader Andre 'Blackman' Bryan had sent him to supervise one of Vybz Kartel's video shoots to ensure that it was done properly.

He said the shoot was being done on McKinley Crescent in St Andrew and that it was for the song Buck up Inna. The dancehall artiste, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, along with Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John were convicted in 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. They were handed mandatory life sentences.

The prosecution's star witness also testified that Bryan's other alleged gang members would reportedly frequent the St Andrew studio of popular dancehall artiste I- Octane.

The witness testified that the alleged gang members, including him, visited the entertainer to record music. The witness earlier testified that the lone female defendant, Stephanie Christie, had intimate relationship with two alleged gang members. The court heard that Christie, who is said to be a pastor and is married, was the girlfriend of defendant Fabian Johnson, otherwise called Crocs. But the witness said before that relationship, she dated another alleged member called Citypuss. The witness also said that he did not trust Christie and that she had reportedly ordered a man to be killed in Spanish Town, St Catherine. The trial will continue today.