The prosecution in the hearing to determine whether Vybz Kartel and his three accused will face a retrial for murder is unable to say if the state can afford to carry the matter forward.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Claudette Thompson, began her submission on Thursday morning. But no sooner had she begun, she was interrupted by the tribunal asking if the cost of a retrial would be worth it to the state.
The acting DPP insisted ‘the state will just have to bear the cost’.
However, this did not appease Justice Marva McDonald Bishop who insisted on a direct answer from the state’s lead prosecutor as to the potential costs of a retrial.
Acting DPP Thompson attempted to highlight the seriousness of the matter at hand.
But in a sharp rebuttal Justice McDonald Bishop asked the acting DPP if case law makes any distinction about the seriousness of the offence when considering the cost and resources required to mount the retrial.
The acting DPP attempted to make the case that the state is willing to spend on priority matters, pointing to the costs undertaken to try anti-gang matters.
The tribunal urged the acting DPP to make a distinction between one murder case and a gang matter.
Justice McDonald Bishop went on to call the acting DPP’s attempted explanations a ‘novel interpretation’ and the tribunal cautioned the prosecutor to “use your time wisely”.
After the inquest by the tribunal, the acting DPP relented saying “very well my lady. I will not belabour the point”.
Meanwhile, the acting DPP was again placed on the back foot when she was pressed on when a potential retrial would take place.
“I don’t know” conceded the acting DPP. Ms Thompson offered 2025 as the best estimate, to which Justice McDonald Bishop simply responded “I see.”
The matter is currently underway in the Court of Appeal.
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