The verdict is in Dancehall Reggae artist Vybz Kartel aka Adidja Palmer has been found guilty of murder along with his co-accused. Throughout the trial text and blackberry messages were retrieved and read out which pointed to one of the most heinous crimes being committed. Although a body has never been found, the evidence suggested the body was disposed of as a way to cover up the truth.
Kartel's loyal fans have been demonstrating and chanting free"World Boss". Since the verdict was announced many have been divided over the verdict. Some have argued that the justice system is messed up. However many argue that finally they can see the justice system working the way it should be and that fame and fortune is not being held above justice. What are your thoughts?
20 years ago today Stephen Lawrence and his best friend Duwayne Brooks were set upon by a gang of white boys intent on causing harm to anyone based on the colour of their skin. Stephen and Duwayne being black males became their target. Sadly Stephen was unable to get away from the brutal and fatal attack and died. The police were deemed as not treating the case seriously at the time and even treated the surviving victim as a criminal.
The Macpherson report came out years later after the murder and the first trials and told the UK what the Black community already knew and experienced. There was institutional racism in the police force. However still today some things have not changed. Stop and searches of non-whites have increased. Black people are stopped 1 in 10 times and yet only a small proportion are actually ever charged with a crime. The UK has a long way to go indeed. The comment sections of certain newspapers are filled with folk saying it is time to let it go and move on. However all his murderers are not behind bars. So the fight must continue.
At the time of his untimely passing Stephen was a student with dreams of becoming an architect. His family have set up a charity The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust that raises funds to help young people achieve their dreams in the same industry.
Today a memorial service was held at St. Martins In the Fields Church in London in remembrance of Stephen.
Today two of the men who took part in the racially motivated attack on Stephen Lawrence which led to his death by stabbing have been found guilty. Gary Dobson and David Norris have been found guilty through DNA evidence from modern scientific techniques. This young man lost his life just because a group of thugs wanted to attack someone based on the colour of their skin. Stephen was trying to get home with his friend Duwayne Brooks when they were set up on. Stephen lost his life. He was 18 years old when he died and the conviction of at least two of his murderers has taken 18 years. Britain has always been in denial of its true race relations. Modern events have proven some people still feel this way. Maybe one day we all will be treated as humans equally and not just a colour.
Stephen Lawrence Rest In Peace. I pray the Lawrence family can start to get some closure from these sad events.
Dr Conrad Murray has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of singer Michael Jackson by administering hospital grade sedative Propofol. In the below clip you can hear a squeal as the verdict is read out. News reports now say that was MJ sis Latoya Jackson reaction.
Many people rightly believe that MJ was partly to blame for his addictions but so where all his doctors who chose money over good medical practice. Murray acknowledged that he was trying to wean MJ off the sedative which MJ often referred to as milk. Sometimes in life you have to choose whether you are an enabler or a preventer or simply do not partake nor support a person's addiction. Murray was an enabler. Looking at pictures of the doctor before and how he looked in court. I think he is somewhat remorseful and definitely a defeated broken man. His career is gone all because of this lapse which is called medical malpractice.
R.I.P. MJ
Let's hope the Jackson family can move forward now.
Tariq Jahan lost his son last night as he amongst others put themselves forward to defend their communities against the rioters and looters that have been gripping the UK. In is grief he asks for peace and that all races unite for the better of the community.
"Today we stand here to plead with all the youth to remain calm (and) for our communities to stand united. This is not a race issue.
"Blacks, Asians, whites - we all live in the same community. Why do we have to kill each other?
"I lost my son. Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, calm down and go home."
(source)
A young man went to his mum’s home for lunch one day. As a result he disturbed two burglars and a struggle ensued. The results of which led to one of the burglars who were both armed, passing away. The police treated the victim as the criminal and placed him on a charge. Today Omari Roberts was due to stand trial for the murder of an armed burglar in his mothers home. What if his mum was at home at the time? I can only imagine what harm these boys would have tried to do to her.
This is what Omari had to say about the incident and the charges he was facing
"The past year for me has been a nightmare. It's been very stressful. I haven't wanted the events to happen as they have happened.
"I have been taken away from my family. I have had restrictions to what I can do. I am overwhelmed that the charges have been dropped but it still hasn't sunk in yet." (read more here)
English law is very fickle. From what I understand if someone attacks you providing you let them beat you up you can press charges. If you defend yourself your attacker can by law now have charges put against you. This seems to be the same ethos used by the police in this case. But is his right? This reminds me of the Tony Martin Case where he shot and killed burglars on his remote farm. He was found guilty of murder and the surviving burglar tried to sue him for loss of earnings.
There needs to be a balance and if someone goes to someone else’s home with the intent to take what is not theirs, they should face a stiffer penalty. I pray and hope Omari is still able to continue with his building career or anything positive in his life.
