Entertainment
Jamaica’s Vybz Kartel Freed From Prison At Last
Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel and his co-accused have been released after the Jamaican Court of Appeal decided not to retry them for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams.
The Court’s ruling was influenced by multiple factors, including the insufficient and inadequate account by the prosecution of its witnesses and trial exhibits, as well as the significant time and financial costs associated with a retrial.
The decision, announced by Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop and her colleagues Paulette Williams and David Fraser, concluded that the costs and impact on the court’s resources would be too great, especially given other pending cases. This ruling follows the UK-based Privy Council’s overturning of Kartel’s 2014 murder conviction in March 2024 due to juror misconduct.
Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, along with Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St. John, had served over 12 years in prison. Throughout their incarceration, they maintained their innocence in Williams’ death.