Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, has been freed after spending 12 years in prison.
The Court of Appeal of Jamaica announced its decision against a retrial on Wednesday, effectively concluding a protracted legal case that began with his arrest in 2011.
In 2014, a court convicted Vybz Kartel, along with three co-defendants – Shawn Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones – for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. The court sentenced them all to life imprisonment. The judge also mandated Kartel to serve at least 35 years before becoming eligible for parole.
However, in March 2024, the UK-based Privy Council overturned these convictions because of juror misconduct during the original trial. Specifically, one juror allegedly attempted to bribe other jurors to return a not-guilty verdict. Despite this, the judge at the time allowed the trial to continue without dismissing the juror in question.
Consequently, the Privy Council’s ruling led to the case returning to Jamaica’s Court of Appeal to determine whether to conduct a retrial. On Wednesday, Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, leading the Court of Appeal panel, delivered the verdict against a retrial. The court concluded that “the interests of justice do not require a new trial,” as local media reported.
In reaching this decision, the court considered several factors. Justice McDonald-Bishop described the alleged offense as a “deliberate attack and barefaced defiance of law and order.” However, she also cited “several equally powerful factors” that argued against a retrial. These included the unavailability of witnesses, the significant time that had elapsed since the alleged offense, and reports of Kartel’s poor health.
The co-defendants have all now been released except Kahira Jones. He remains in custody due to a sentence in an unrelated case from 2009.
Vybz Kartel is one of Jamaica’s most influential dancehall artists. Throughout his incarceration, he consistently maintained his innocence. His legal team, led by attorney Isat Buchanan, found the outcome satisfactory, stating, “This is their independence, their emancipation.”
A few seconds after midnight today, the dancehall artist shared a celebratory video on X with the caption: “Am out! Me and wifey.”
Vybz Kartel has collaborated with international stars such as Rihanna, Pitbull, and Busta Rhymes. His 2009 collaboration with Major Lazer, “Pon De Floor,” was a huge hit internationally.
