IN JAMAICA: DPP, prosecution team get death threats over Kartel verdict....Threats have also been issued against the life of the murder victim's sister, who gave evidence during the trial, as well as other relatives.

BY KARYL WALKER Editor — Crime/Court Desk walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, April 04, 2014    

DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn has confirmed that she and members of her prosecution team have received death threats after the guilty verdict of Vybz Kartel and his three co-accused for the murder of former associate Clive 'Lizard' Williams.

Dir. of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn
 speaks with journalists yesterday outside
 Gordon House on Duke Street, downtown
 Kingston. (PHOTO: MICHAEL GORDON)

The Jamaica Observer was reliably informed that Llewellyn had been threatened on the weekend and security around her had been beefed up.

"During the course of this trial we have had threats during the course of our jobs; we have to do our jobs, we have to do it without fear or favour. We suffered threats as well but we have had to ignore it. The police, at every turn, responded immediately. We have had to beef up security around the prosecution," Llewellyn said yesterday.

She said despite popular perception, prosecutors are not hell-bent on sending accused people to prison and begged for the public's understanding.

"I would appeal to the public to appreciate that we have a job to do as professionals. We don't take it personally. We have an obligation as ministers of justice to make sure that everything is fair to the defendant. We cannot be intimidated. We are salaried public servants doing a job that we are committed to doing. If we get a conviction or if someone is acquitted we get the same salary," she said.

Yesterday, the police issued a release outlining a number of threats that were levelled against prosecution witnesses during the trial.

The police said the main prosecution witness, Lamar Chow, is still in protective custody due to several threats against his life and promises that he would be rewarded if he refused to co-operate with the prosecution.

Threats have also been issued against the life of the murder victim's sister, who gave evidence during the trial, as well as other relatives. The police were not exempt. more