An unsworn statement is not grounds for a guilty verdict, Judge instructs jury

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Justice Lennox Campbell in continuing his summation in the Vybz Kartel murder trial Thursday morning told the jurors that they cannot find the accused guilty because they gave unsworn statements.

“One of the things you cannot do is because they did not give sworn statements, you say they are guilty. You cannot do that, that would be wrong,” Campbell instructed the 11-member jury panel Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, the murder trial, now in its 65th day, got off to a late start because of the absence of one of the jurors at the scheduled start time.

Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, is charged jointly with fellow entertainer Shawn Campbell, also called Shawn Storm; Kahira Jones; Shane Williams; and André St John for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams believed committed in August 2011.

source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/An-unsworn-statement-is-not-grounds-for-a-guilty-verdict–Judge-instructs-jury