Supporters of Vybz Kartel gather outside the Supreme Court downtown Kingston, to catch a glimpse of their boss. - Norman Grindley

Foreigners, locals gather for Worl' Boss

Andre Williams and Chad Bryan, STAR Writers

Supporters of a popular dancehall artiste and those of Shortie, the girlfriend and babymother of jailed dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, clashed outside the Supreme Court yesterday as the trial of the self-styled 'Worl' Boss' got under way in downtown Kingston.

The two camps reportedly had a war of words as they waited on the deejay to make an appearance. THE STAR gathered that this resulted in the deejay's babymother along with family and friends occupying Tower Street, while the popular female deejay along with her entourage taking up their position along Barry Street. Both streets run close to the Supreme Court.

A supporter of the female artiste told THE STAR, "Nuh dem a come gwan like dem want rush her, then come wid one bag a gyal and a bag a chattings. We nuh business with dem. Di one Shortie she and her false ... and her fren dem," the supporter said.

When THE STAR went to Tower Street we were told that Shortie had left. A woman claiming to be her sister, however, refuted claims that Shortie and the female entertainer were involved in an argument. The woman told the news team that it was not Shortie's camp who threatened the artiste, adding it was some other girl whom she declined to point out.

While our news team was at Tower Street, a gentleman reiterated that there was in fact a confrontation outside the courtroom involving two women and their entourages.

He said, "Yeah man, dem nearly war fi di Worl' Boss and di man lock up, it serious."

Aside from the clash, many persons gathered to show their support for Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer. Persons from as far as England, Canada, United States, as well as Bull Bay, Ocho Rios, Swallowfield, Rollington Town, Flankers and Mountain View among other places, gathered to salute the artiste.

One supporter demanded to know why the artiste was being held so long in the halls of justice, and vowed not to leave even if it took the authorities until 2 a.m. to bring him out.

She said, "Di longer dem tek fi bring him out, the more di crowd ago grow ... people ago come after work and join in ... Him lawyer dem gone two hours ago and dem still can't bring him out, and di police dem deh ya a tell we all sort of hot words ..."

Children, young adults and a handful of senior citizens made up the large gathering who were seemingly intrigued at every movement in and around Justice Square.

Meanwhile, Kartel along with Lenburgh McDonald and Nigel Thompson are on trial after being jointly charged with the July 2011 shooting death of the St Catherine businessman, Barrington 'Bossy' Burton.

The trial is expected to continue today.