JAMAICA – Ninjaman found guilty of murder

Entertainer Ninjaman, whose given name is Desmond Ballentine, and his co-accused, Jahneil Ballentine and Dennis Clayton, have been convicted for the 2009 murder of Ricardo Johnson on Mall Road in Kingston 11.

Justice Martin Gayle, who had been summing up the case since last week, had handed it over to the jury early Monday afternoon for deliberation.

The seven-member jury handed down the verdict in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston Monday afternoon, after deliberating for a little more than three hours.

Ninjaman was found guilty of murder and shooting. His co-accused were also found guilty of murder, however, they were found not guilty on the charge of shooting.

Ninjaman, who was recently released from hospital after suffering a minor heart attack, was in court.

Prosecutors had presented evidence that Johnson was fatally shot in a yard by the artiste and other men.

The men had denied killing Johnson.