KINGSTON, Jamaica — The extremely anticipated enchantment listening to for dancehall icon Desmond “Ninja Man” Ballentyne and his two co-convicts has been pushed again as soon as once more, after contemporary authorized points disrupted the beginning of proceedings.
The matter, which was set for a full week of oral arguments beginning in the present day, has now been provisionally rescheduled to the week of March 23 subsequent 12 months.
The delay surrounds co-convict Dennis Clayton, whose lawyer lately fell ailing. Clayton’s new lawyer was retained solely days earlier than the enchantment was set to open, leaving little time to overview what insiders describe as a large, advanced case file.
One of many main points anticipated to take centre stage on enchantment is visible identification.
Including to the issues, celebrated defence lawyer Valerie Neita Robertson, KC, who had represented Ninja Man, handed away in February. The entertainer is now represented by lawyer Robert Fletcher.
King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, who seems for Ninja Man’s son, Janeil, mentioned he was totally ready to proceed however acknowledged that the court docket can’t transfer ahead until all co-appellants are correctly represented.
“Like all issues involving co-accused, the case can’t be heard disjointedly,” Champagnie mentioned on Monday. “It’s a setback, however it’s comprehensible.”
Ninja Man, his son, and Clayton had been sentenced to life in jail in 2017 for the 2009 homicide of Ricardo Johnson in Kingston.
Justice Martin Gayle handed down the sentences within the Dwelling Circuit Courtroom following the trio’s conviction for homicide and taking pictures with intent.
Prosecutors had argued that the killing got here someday after a home dispute within the Decrease Mall Street group of St Andrew. In accordance with the Crown, the boys returned armed with weapons and different weapons, chased Johnson and a witness, and through the assault, Johnson was shot within the aspect as he tried to defend himself.
The dancehall veteran’s enchantment continues to face delays — however all eyes will once more flip to the courts subsequent March, when the matter is predicted to lastly be heard.
