Son of Dancehall Artist Mavado Gets Life in Prison

Dante Brooks, the teenaged son of dancehall entertainer, Mavado, was sentenced to life imprisonment for a 2018 murder.

Brooks, 18, and his co-accused, Andre Hinds, were found guilty of murder, illegal possession of firearm and arson in January of this year in relation to the murder of Lorenzo Thomas in 2018. Both men were given their sentences in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston on Friday, March 19.

Brooks is to serve 22 years before being eligible for parole consideration.

Additionally, he was sentenced to 15 years behind bars on each count of illegal possession of firearm and arson. The three sentences are to run concurrently.

His co-accused, Hinds, was also sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, and will have to serve 17 years before being eligible for parole consideration.

Brooks and Hinds were charged in connection with the killing of Lorenzo Thomas in the St Andrew community of Cassava Piece, where the deejay is from.

Mavado responded to the murder conviction of his teenage son, saying that corruption was involved in the case. The deejay also expressed “gratitude to all the fans, friends and family who said positive and encouraging words throughout this terrible time”.

Mavado also promised “to fight for the lives of these two innocent youths”.

"It’s like my son was found guilty before trial, but I’m going to point out everything and the injustice one day at a time," he said in an Instagram post.

Brooks' legal team plans to appeal the teenager's murder conviction in the Court of Appeal.