Deejay confident carnal abuse charges will be dropped

BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter hinesh@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, August 22, 2011

 MONTEGO BAY, St James — Popular dancehall artiste Food Kartel, who was last week charged with carnal abuse, is contending that he has been framed and has vowed to clear his name.

"Last week is the first I heard about it. When I heard I was depressed, disgruntled, in a state of shock," the entertainer told the Observer.

 Allegations are that the 38-year-old entertainer, whose given name is Courtney Broughton, and who is of a Discovery Bay address in St Ann, had sexual intercourse with the daughter of his former spouse in 2001 when she was only four years old and again in 2006 when she was nine.

After being contacted by the police, Broughton, accompanied by attorney Marissa Dalrymple-Philibert, turned himself into the Clarks Town police last Tuesday where he was arrested and slapped with carnal abuse charges.

The following day when the matter was brought before the Falmouth Resident Magistrate's Court for mention, Resident Magistrate Sharon Barnes granted Broughton bail in the sum of $250,000, with one or two sureties and condition to report to the Rio Bueno Police Station every Friday between 6:00 am and 7:00 pm.

The deejay, whose travel documents have been ordered surrendered, is scheduled to return to the Falmouth Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday, October 20, for a hearing.

The embattled entertainer, renowned for composing spoofs of popular dancehall hits, using lyrics based on food, says stemming from the allegations he has been served notice to vacate the rented house he now occupies.

In addition, he claims promoters have already cancelled three bookings.

He is confident that he will be vindicated when the trial is over.

"If my fans leave me now I don't have nothing left. Because of this accusation my career is suffering. I have lost three shows in a row," he rued, citing that it will now be a challenge to provide financial support for his nine children to return to school in September.