Popular Jamaican reggae star Jah Cure was on Tuesday sentenced to six years in prison by a Dutch court after he was found guilty of attempted manslaughter. Even though the court also found the Royal Soldier singer not guilty of attempted murder, his argument of self-defense was rejected, Jamaica Observer reported.
“The 43-years old man was sentenced to six years in prison – with credit for time served – for attempted manslaughter. The court finds him not guilty of attempted murder. His claim of self-defence was rejected by the court,” press officer of the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service, Franklin Wattimena, told the news outlet.
The 43-year-old’s legal team can, however, appeal his conviction. “Both the 43-year old man and the prosecutor can appeal to the [Netherlands] Court of Appeal within two weeks if they disagree with the court’s ruling,” Wattimena said.
The convicted singer, born Siccaturie Alcock, was arrested in the Netherlands last year for allegedly stabbing a promoter in the abdomen during an altercation on October 1, Face2Face Africa reported. The musician was on a European tour prior to the incident, and he has been in jail since his arrest.
The incident reportedly occurred at Dam Square, which is located in the European nation’s capital city of Amsterdam. The victim Jah Cure allegedly stabbed was identified as Nicardo ‘Papa’ Blake. Following the stabbing, authorities said the victim reported the incident to police before he was shortly taken to a hospital for surgery.
Jah Cure was arrested at Utrecht’s city center a day after the incident. He was subsequently charged with attempted murder, attempted manslaughter, aggravated assault or attempted aggravated assault, Jamaica Star reported at the time.
But this isn’t the first time the Longing For singer has had a brush with the law. In 1999, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison on rape, robbery and firearm charges. He served eight years of that sentence and was released in 2007.
