KINGSTON, Jamaica — Dancehall artiste Mavado is threatening legal action following the recent overturning of the murder convictions of his son, Dantay Brooks, and Andre Hines. The two were initially sentenced to life imprisonment for a 2018 murder, but their convictions were quashed by the Appeal Court, which ruled that their convictions were unsafe, leading to a substantial miscarriage of justice.
The Appeal Court found that the trial judge mishandled the identification evidence and did not adequately address the credibility of the prosecution’s sole eyewitness, resulting in the applicants being denied proper legal safeguards. Mavado expressed his relief and joy at his son’s release but also voiced his anger at the injustice that occurred.
Mavado plans to pursue full legal action against those involved in what he described as a “cruel act of injustice.” He expressed gratitude to attorneys Hugh Wildman and Oswest Senior-Smith for their work in freeing his son and Hines.
Brooks and Hines were initially sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2021 for the 2018 murder of Lorenzo “Israel” Thomas. The Appeal Court’s ruling has highlighted significant issues within the legal system, particularly regarding the handling of identification evidence and the importance of ensuring fair trials.
