Spanish Town, St. Catherine:
THE TRIAL OF Portmore-based entertainer Adijah 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer and Desmond 'Ninja Man' Ballentine is set to continue in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on May 21. Bail for both entertainers were extended until then.
Three other men who are charged along with Palmer - Julius Watson, Anthony Wright and Patrick Samuels - also had their bail extended until that date.
When the accused men appeared in court last Thursday, the court was reminded that on December 27, 2003, at about 5:30 a.m. during the 25th staging of the Sting, dubbed the greatest one-night show on earth, it is alleged that Ninja Man and Vybz Kartel were involved in a lyrical battle that escalated into a fight.
Samuels, Wright and Watson allegedly joined the fracas on stage and in the aftermath Ninja Man suffered a fractured nose. He subsequently sought treatment at Nuttall Hospital in Kingston.
Investigations by Detective Superintendent of Police Cornwall 'Bigga' Ford led to the arrest of Samuels, Ballentine, Wright and Watson, on charges of disorderly conduct. Adijah Palmer, however, was slapped with additional charges of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and illegal possession of ammunition. All the men were granted bail in the sum of $30,000 except for Palmer who was offered bail in the sum of $100,000.
When the case came up for mention on February 18, Ballentine failed to appear before the court and as a result a warrant was ordered for his arrest. However, he turned up for court last Wednesday accompanied by his attorney. After an explanation the warrant was vacated and he was told to return to court the following day.
The accused men appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Lorna Errar Gayle.
Attorneys representing the accused men - Valerie Neita Robertson and Wenford Chang, told the magistrate that they have had discussions with Ballentine's lawyer and it was decided that they would have taken a certain course. However, seeing that the file will have to be recreated due to the recent fire at the court office, and the absence of Norma Linton Q.C. who is representing Ballentine, it was agreed that a new date of May 21 would be set.
It was also borne out that one of the accused men, Patrick Samuels, was absent. Mrs. Neita Robertson told the court that Samuels was involved in another case and was at the Half-Way Tree Courthouse.
A warrant was ordered by RM Gayle who asked that the warrant be stayed until the next court date.
