ENTERTAINER Vybz Kartel and his two co-accused were yesterday acquitted of a charge of murder in the Home Circuit Court after the prosecution offered no further evidence against them.

The prosecution’s decision was expected in light of Justice Bryan Sykes’ dismissal on Tuesday of its application for the statements from two key witnesses to be entered into evidence under section 31(D) of the Evidence Act.

“We have no further evidence to offer, Your Lordship,” lead prosecutor Maxine Jackson told the court. “To date we have not been able to find the witnesses.”

As Jackson spoke, Kartel used a light-coloured handkerchief to fan his face and wiped below his eyes.

Moments later, the jurors returned formal verdicts of not guilty for Kartel, Lenburgh McDonald and Nigel Thompson, as directed by Sykes.

After the verdicts were taken, juror number 11 — a female — cast her gaze in the direction of the men sitting in the prisoners’ dock in the Number I courtroom at the Home Circuit Court, her face lit with a broad smile.

Kartel, looking sharp in a grey suit, sat up and straightened his matching necktie. On occasion, he glanced at the 12 jurors, who — had the prosecution’s case not crumbled — would have determined his fate.

Sitting between Kartel and Thompson, McDonald folded his arms across his chest after the verdicts were taken. Then he clasped his hands, as if praying before slightly massaging his cheeks as his chest heaved from a

deep breath.

“As far as this indictment is concerned, this trial is at an end,” Sykes told the men, who snapped to their feet when he asked them to stand so he could address them. “You are free to go unless there is any other lawful reason for the police to keep you.”

“Thank you,” McDonald said.

Kartel nodded and smiled.

Hours later, Thompson and McDonald were greeted by a small crowd of supporters after being processed and released. Some in the crowd enquired about Kartel, who is being held in police custody for another murder trial, which is to start in November. In that matter, Kartel and five other persons — including Portmore Empire stablemate Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell — are to be tried for the beating death of friend Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams at a home in Havendale,

St Andrew.

Following his acquittal yesterday, the Jamaica Observer obtained a statement bearing the name Adidjah Palmer — which is Kartel’s correct name — and the moniker ‘Worl’ Boss’.

“I had the utmost confidence from the outset, as I knew I was being used as a scapegoat… because of my image and content of some of my music,” said the statement.

“I want to thank my attorneys Tom and Christian Tavares-Finson, my family, my baby mother Shorty and all my fans for their continued support in my trying times,” the statement concluded.

Kartel, McDonald and Thompson had been on trial for the July 2011 shooting death of St Catherine resident Barrington ‘Bossie’ Bryan. The jury started hearing evidence in the matter last week Monday. They were sent home the following day as the prosecution started making its application for the statements of its missing witnesses to be entered into evidence on the grounds that the men could not be located.

The application was stoutly contested by Michael Deans (McDonald’s lawyer), the Tavares-Finsons and Tamika Harris, who represents Thompson. The thrust of the opposition was that the prosecution didn’t take sufficient steps, in keeping with the requirements of the Act, to locate the witnesses.

During the application, Harris brought in witnesses from the Registrar General’s Department and the principals of three schools one of the witnesses is said to have attended. The witnesses testified that there was no record of the witness.

Deans, in his submission to Sykes before his ruling on Tuesday, charged that the witness was made up by the police — “a phantom” he called the witness.

Yesterday, the men’s attorneys hailed the acquittal of their clients.