Lawyer For Mavado’s Son Awaits Trial Transcript To Launch Appeal Of Murder Conviction

An appeal date for Mavado’s incarcerated son, Dantay Brooks, may soon be set as well-known Queen’s counsel Peter Champagnie, the attorney representing Brooks, revealed that he is awaiting the transcript of his client’s trial.

Champagnie is confident that an appeal date will be set soon after its receipt.

“The registry of the Court of Appeal has already communicated to me in writing to confirm my representation of Mr Brooks for the appeal,” Champagnie was quoted as saying in the Jamaica Observer.

“Given the much-improved rate in terms of timeline at which appeals are now being heard, it is my anticipation that as soon as the transcript from the trial is available a date will be given for the hearing of the matter,” the Queen’s Counsel continued.

Brooks, 18, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston on March 19. He will have to serve 22 years before he is eligible for parole. He was sentenced to 15 years on the illegal possession of firearm charge and 15 years on the arson charge. All charges will be served concurrently.

Brooks’s co-accused, Andre Hinds, was also sentenced to life imprisonment. He, however, will have to serve 17 years before he is eligible for parole. He was also sentenced to 15 years on the illegal possession of firearm charge and 15 years on the arson charge.

Mavado has struck a chord of unity in recent times since the incarceration of his son. Last week, in a viral post circulating online, the Not Perfect singjay sent an encouraging message to the embattled Sparta, currently in the early days of a three-year sentence.

“Bless up the youths dat fighting the struggle a brighter days.🙏🏿 we might fight against each other at times but it’s just one ghetto and if we fight together then you will see the real power”, he wrote beneath a photo of the two.

Brooks and Hinds were found guilty on January 27 of the 2018 murder of Lorenzo Thomas in the St Andrew community of Cassava Piece, illegal possession of firearm, and arson. The sentencing spurred Mavado to lash out at the system’s ‘ghetto bias’.

Mavado’s son’s sentencing coincided with his mom’s passing, and his rival Gaza affiliate Popcaan stepped up with kind words, triggering a wave of solidarity that has swept the dancehall community in recent times.

“Keep yo meds firm up same way singer, keep fighting the fight, condolences to you and your family, tough times for everybody, stay up!” he said.