IN JAMAICA: Spellbound - Murder, Music, Mystery Grip The Nation....the trial of dancehall star Vybz Kartel and four co-accused has captured full national and international attention....For sociologist and radio talk-show host, Dr Orville Taylor, Kartel, even without his legal worries, is a newsworthy personality who has significant influence,

Spellbound - Murder, Music, Mystery Grip The Nation

Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer

It is not the most important case to have passed through the island's courtrooms in the last 20 years. It offers no groundbreaking precedent like the Shanique Myrie case before the Caribbean Court of Justice, nor will it change the status quo like the 1993 Pratt and Morgan ruling of the Privy Council.

Vybz Kartel

However, the trial of dancehall star Vybz Kartel and four co-accused has captured full national and international attention.

The self-proclaimed 'World Boss' and leader of the Gaza Empire in Portmore, St Catherine, has been imprisoned for the last 30 months, charged with the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams.

Courtroom drama

The public is being treated to a daily diet of courtroom drama, including real-time reports about late and sick jurors; temporary adjournments and dramatic legal arguments presented in Patois and English.

But what has made this 'made-for-media' trial so captivating to the public, and why has it attracted this wide a global audience?

Supporters of Vybz Kartel gather outside
 the Supreme Court, downtown Kingston, to
 catch a glimpse of the 'World Boss'.-
Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

For sociologist and radio talk-show host, Dr Orville Taylor, Kartel, even without his legal worries, is a newsworthy personality who has significant influence and following from uptown and downtown.

According to Taylor, one of the factors keeping so many glued to the media is that the main accused is not from uptown.

"The way everything is woven and the tales being told, the issue comes across as something to be watched on (television shows) Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) or Law and Order.

"The personalities involved, from prosecution to accused, to defence, are major factors keeping the nation spellbound," said Taylor... more