Accused juror remanded until March 28

Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter


The man accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by offering the foreman, who was also his fellow juror in the Vybz Kartel murder trial $500,000 to ensure the return of a 'not-guilty' verdict, was remanded in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.


He is 50-year-old businessman Livingston Cain of a Stony Hill address. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and five counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.


Adidja 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer and three of the four co-accused were found guilty of the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams last Thursday.


Cain's attorneys, maintaining their client's innocence, requested that Resident Magistrate Lorna Shelly-Williams set a date for a mention hearing.


"We are just asking if persons could just step down a bit, and allow the justice system to operate. I'm trying to avoid the media attack, I'm trying to minimise it," she said.


The court heard Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, quickly interjecting in light of the seriousness of the allegations made against the accused.


Prior to making several attempts to convince his fellow jurors in the trial to return a 'not-guilty' verdict for Kartel and the four co-accused, Llewellyn outlined that on March 13, Cain approached the foreman and told her he wanted to speak with her privately.


"They proceeded to the upstairs library, she took her Blackberry smartphone and voice recorded the conversation that took place between Cain and herself," Llewellyn continued.


voice recording


The DPP explained that the foreman was astonished at what had been said upon replaying the voice recording. Llewellyn added that subsequently, in disbelief, the foreman went back to Cain to confirm what she had heard. It was then that the accused was believed to have offered her $500,000, promising she would receive the sum the following day. Llewellyn told the court that Cain is alleged to have said that he had observed that she had an influence over the other jurors.


"I will take care of you, as long as yu seh weh me a say. These men are promising entertainers and unu must let dem go," Cain allegedly said while bargaining.


Subsequently, the court heard that a report was made to the authorities and Cain was arrested and charged.


The sitting magistrate granted bail to the accused in the sum of $750,000. He was ordered to surrender his travel documents, and report to the Stony Hill Police Station daily. Cain was remanded in custody until March 28 pending a mention hearing.



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