Kingston, Jamaica (McKoy’s News) – Ninja Man Guilty: Veteran dancehall artiste, 51-year-old Ninja Man, born Desmond Ballentine, was convicted and found guilty of murder yesterday in the Home Circuit Court. The only reaction that came from Ninja Man when he and his co-accused was led from the Court, was a few words “a suh it go man”.
Ninja Man, his son Janiel and his co-accused Dennis Clayton, were all found guilty of the 8-yr-old murder of Ricardo Johnson, also known as Ricky Trooper. Trooper was shot dead on March 16, 2009 and in that same year Ninja Man and his co-accused were arrested. An additional charge of shooting with intent was slapped on to Ninja Man. However, Clayton was freed of that charge.
All three men are to be sentenced on December 15 and face the possibility of serving a life-term in prison.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn has congratulated the prosecuting team and investigators for organizing and dealing with what she described as a very challenging case. “Once there is a viable case, we are obligated to go forward,” Llewellyn said. “Jurors heard the evidence, they heard the summation of prosecuting and defense counsel as well as the judge and they made their decision,” Llewellyn added.
The jury comprised of four (4) men and three (3) women.