Are dancehall artistes being punished by judges and the prosecution?
Dear Editor,
Ninjaman’s guilty verdict and life sentence is another blow to dancehall.
From 2009 until present we’ve seen a huge change in Ninjaman’s life. He was even given the opportunity by the minister of national security and the police high command to give a morale-boasting speech to the police. Still he was given life imprisonment, being eligible for parole after 25 years.
Before him, Vybz Kartel was given life imprisonment, with 35 years to be served before he’s eligible for parole.
At the same time we had businessman Steve Causewell who was convicted of killing his girlfriend with 19 injuries being given a life sentence, but is only required to serve 20 years to be up for parole. Keno Gilzene, who killed his girlfriend and hid her under in a pit at his home, only got seven years — due to mental illness. Phillip Brown hammered his girlfriend to death and only got 15 years — up for parole in 10. The director of public prosecutions, in explaining the sentence handed to Brown, said he has pleaded to manslaughter and not murder.
We’ve seen in the past where even known gangsters are given light sentences. We’ve also seen the different approaches of the prosecutors towards dancehall artistes versus cases. It seems they’re punishing the artistes more.
Teddylee Gray
Ocho Rios, St Ann
teddylee.gray@gmail.com
