Jamaican entertainer Vybz Kartel freed with his co-accused following a decision by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday. The ruling determined that there would be no retrial for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. The judgment was delivered by a three-judge panel comprising Justices Marva McDonald-Bishop, Paulette Williams, and David Fraser.
Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, along with Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John, were convicted in 2011 for the murder of Williams. Despite an appeal to the local Court of Appeal in 2020, their convictions were initially upheld.
However, the case took a significant turn when the United Kingdom-based Privy Council overturned their murder convictions on March 14, 2024, due to juror misconduct. The Privy Council also referred the case back to the Jamaica Court of Appeal to decide on the possibility of a retrial. The Court of Appeal ultimately ruled against a retrial, leading to the release of Kartel and his co-accused.
This ruling marks the end of a long legal battle for Kartel and his co-accused, who have spent years fighting their convictions. The decision has been met with widespread attention and will likely have significant implications for the Jamaican legal system and the individuals involved.