Music With Mayhem. Although it would be grossly unfair to lather dancehall uniformly with the paintbrush of illegality, there can no denying the multiple run-ins with the law among the upper echelons of its performers. An indication of just how deep is the connection between the dancehall and crime is the fact that two of its leading lights for the past decade, Buju Banton (Mark Myrie) and Vybz Kartel (Adidja Palmer), are in custody facing long prison terms, even as they continue their legal fights for freedom. In addition, two former affiliates of Vybz Kartels Gaza outfit are currently having conversations with the lawmen and could also find themselves in hot water. On Monday, February 3, 2014, deejay Tommy Lee Sparta, whose real name is Leroy Russell, was among a number of persons held by the police in a raid at premises in New Kingston, as part of a crackdown on the notorious lottery scam. He was eventually released on $400,000 bail, after being charged with breaches of the anti-lottery scamming law, and is to appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrates Court on April 3. Another Gazaite, André Popcaan Sutherland, is also out on bail. He is facing assault charges and will return to court on June 5. The allegations stem from an incident with a policeman at the Norman Manley International Airport on November 25, 2013. These are two of the most recent unresolved cases involving prominent dancehall artistes, but certainly not the most serious. DUBIOUS HONOUR That dubious honour would have to go to Desmond Ninja Man Ballentine, who was granted bail on March 23, 2012, after being detained for three years, along with his son Janiel Ballentine, Dennis Clayton, and Seymour Samuels. Ninja Man is charged with murder. After being put off several times - the last time being October 7, 2013 - a commencement date has been set for April 7. From early in his musical career, the courts and cells were not unfamiliar territory for Ninja Man. In a 2006 interview with The STAR, Ninja Man said even after he reached a new audience with the late 1980s song Protection, a collaboration with singer Courtney Melody, Mi did still wanted by the law. So, at a time when the late producer and Silverhawk sound system operator, Wycliffe Steelie Johnson, came looking for Ninja Man, ... Mi deh a jail fi six month. At one point, it seemed Bounty Killer, real name Rodney Pryce, was almost as famed for his run-ins with the law as he was for his music. In July 2010, he was acquitted of assaulting an ex-girlfriend, who said she was no longer interested in pursuing the case. He had been arrested in April. By September, he was back in custody in the infamous hammer-assault case, in which he was alleged to have wounded another woman with the construction tool. The case was dismissed in January 2011. Also in 2010, Bounty Killer appeared in the Gun Court to face illegal possession of firearm and wounding charges. Those stemmed from a September 2009 incident in New Kingston, where an off-duty policeman was allegedly assaulted and fired at in a street encounter. The artiste was freed of the charges in December 2012. The Crown withdrew the allegations as the statement of the policeman who was allegedly assaulted was contradicted by a senior police officer. After their multiple legal run-ins, both deejays have pledged to avoid such situations in the future, Bounty Killer promising in lyric that no more would he be saying, Your Honour. Singjay David Mavado Brooks and Vybz Kartel may have been on different sides in the former Gully-Gaza feud. But, as often happens with opponents, they found themselves in custody at the same police station on November 10, 2010. They turned themselves in to the Constant Spring Police Station and were released the following day. Kartel and Mavado were aligned to the nearby communities of Cassava Piece and Big Yard, respectively, and the police were probing a double murder on Mannings Hill Road. ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED AT STATION It was not Mavados only time in less-than-pleasant circumstances at the Constant Spring Police Station. On September 26, 2006, he alleged that he was assaulted by the police inside the station, suffering severe injuries to one hand from a broken glass. In 2012, Mavado was convicted of assault and malicious destruction of property arising from an incident along the Belmont main road in St James. He was penalised with a $80,000 fine or six months in custody for assault, and $20,000 or six months for malicious destruction. Last October, the Court of Appeal turned down his bid to have the conviction overturned. Buju Banton is also appealing his June 2011 10-year sentence on drug charges in the United States. Siccature Jah Cure Alcock was released in 2007 after his 1999 conviction and sentencing on rape and gun charges. Garfield Zebra Vassell was released from prison in 2008 after serving six years for rape, but was soon back behind bars - and wont be coming out anytime soon. In 2010, he was sentenced to 30 years for buggery and carnal abuse. In March 2009, singer Jepther Luciano McClymot was asked to answer to charges of harbouring a criminal, after a shootout between policemen and a wanted man, Andrew Conqueror Senior, at Lucianos studio on Westminster Crescent in St Andrew. Luciano was freed of the charges in 2011. Abdel Wright, whose Quicksand found favour with audiences, spent 1996 to 2001 in prison for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. In addition, a large number of entertainers have had run-ins with the law for marijuana use.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 15:11:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015