Witness in Vybz Kartel Trial Not Cooperating With Authorities

There may be one reason why Vybz Kartel is not angry right now after the recent delay in his murder trial, and that is because the prosecution's main witness is uncooperative.

As more details surrounding the high profile trial emerged, Urban Islandz media has learned that a key witness did not show up in court yesterday.

Supreme Court judge, Marjorie Cole-Smith, set a new trial date for November 18.

However, the case will again mention in court on June 10 to facilitate a bail hearing for Kartel's co-accused and protege Shawn Storm Campbell.

Sources close to the case indicate that the witness might be fearful for his life and as such refused to testify in the case.

In a place like Jamaica no one would want to testify in a case against a notorious person like Vybz Kartel, the source said.

Earlier this year Vybz Kartel released a statement from behind bars bashing Jamaican law enforcement for fabricating the case against him.

In the statement, Vybz Kartel also alleged that police officers are intimidating the witness.

In 2011, I was charged for murder by way of a statement which indicated that I had ordered Lenburgh McDonald to murder Barrington Bossie' Burton, Vybz Kartel said. Weeks later, said witness gave a statement to the Public Defender saying that he was physically assaulted and threatened by the police to say that I was involved in Bossie' Burton's death. Days later, he gave another statement to the Public Defender saying that since he recanted the first statement, he has been getting death threats via calls to his phone.

Prosecutors say they will enter the witness' statement into evidence if he continues to be uncooperative.

Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, is on trial for the murder of St. Catherine businessman/promoter Barrington Bossie Burton and dancer Clive Lizard Williams.

Law enforcement has yet to find Williams' body, who was allegedly beaten to death by Vybz Kartel and his co-accused over a missing firearm.

Police say he was killed at a home in Havendale in August 2011.