SHAWN STORM LAWYERS PREPARING TO APPEAL!

BY RICHARD JOHNSON

Observer senior reporter

THE legal team representing dancehall deejay Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell is preparing to appeal the artiste’s murder conviction, which is set to commence on February 19 of next year. Campbell — along with dancehall deejay Vybz Kartel (given name Adidja Palmer), Kahira Jones, and Andre St John — are currently serving life sentences for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. They are hoping to have their sentences overturned.

Bert Samuels, who is the lead attorney for Campbell, told the Jamaica Observer his team is ready now and will take the next nine months to prepare themselves.

“We are appealing the conviction on several grounds. The team is more than confident that the three judges will look at the case and arguments dispassionately and deal with the information presented to them without prejudice. Because this is an appeal and not a trial, the judges are all experienced and are able to come to a decision without thinking on the reaction from the public,” said Samuels.

Campbell and the three other co-accused were granted leave to appeal their conviction and sentence in the Court of Appeal in March of this year.

The four were given life sentences at the Home Circuit Court in Kingston in March 2014.

Palmer will be eligible for parole after 35 years. He is currently at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Facility in Kingston.

St John will do 30 years before being considered for parole, while Jones and Campbell are to serve 25 years before being eligible.