‘A football-loving family man’: Daughter and sister of Kartel juror testify at hearing
Livingston Cain, the juror who offered a bribe to influence other jurors to return a not guilty verdict in the murder trial against dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, has been described as a football-loving “family man” and outstanding community member.
Those sentiments were expressed by character witnesses at Cain’s sentencing hearing on Wednesday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. He was found guilty of perverting the course of justice on December 13, 2022.
Cain’s 20-year-old daughter broke down in tears before Parish Judge Maxine Ellis as she described him as a “very good father” and said that her relationship with him was “very strong.”
“Most of the time is me and him… he comes to look for me and we’ll go on the road and stuff like that,” she said.
She added that despite Cain not living with her, he makes every effort to be there for her.
“He’s a very good father,” she said, as she wiped tears from her eyes. “He’s my number one caregiver. He is the one that is always there. If I need anything I could always go to him… he comes to me every day.”
At the same time, his sister told the court that former football coach Cain is a humble “family man” with two children.
She added that the 63-year-old man is “very active” in the community and “builds footballers.”
However, when asked by the judge whether or not he has ever discussed his earnings with her, the woman said “No.”
She said whenever she asked for a loan he always said, “Mi nuh have any money now.”
She stated that the loans are “like $2,000… like a small money.”
In lobbying for a favourable sentence, attorney-at-law Jeffery Reid, who appeared in the matter on behalf of defence counsel Valerie Neita-Robertson, told the judge that Cain is a Christian with no previous conviction and he is not a likely repeat offender.
He said in the social inquiry report that the community described Cain as an outstanding member, “sociable but private”, and as such the defence is asking for leniency in sentencing.
Meanwhile, Reid presented a March 3 medical report which indicated that Cain had been hospitalised recently due to an infected wound on his right leg.
Reid told the judge that “this is an infection that he just pick up in lock up.”
With the report in hand, Ellis, who described the report as “preliminary”, had suggested that Reid obtain an updated report that would provide detail as to the severity of the injury, since there might be concerns that his leg may be amputated.
But the attorney rejected this suggestion, stating that there is no need for an additional report.
“For the purpose of why we are here today, I am giving you this report,” Reid said.
Ultimately, Ellis ordered an adjournment to the matter until Thursday at 10:00 am, when it is expected the sentence will be handed down.
Sentencing had been postponed twice, once due to Cain being admitted to the hospital and the other due to an outstanding social inquiry report. Cain was released from hospital on Saturday and the social inquiry report was made available on Wednesday.
Cain has been remanded.
In the murder trial against Kartel, given name Adidja Palmer, he was found guilty along with Kahiro Jones, Andre St John, and Shawn Campbell for killing Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams in August 2011, at a house in Havendale, St Andrew.