
Faith Nyasuguta
Jamaican dancehall sensation Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, has been released from prison after an appeal court in Jamaica decided against a retrial for a murder charge. Kartel, 48, had been convicted in 2014 for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams but maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
His conviction was overturned in March by the Privy Council in London, which serves as the highest court of appeal for Jamaica and other Commonwealth countries.
The charges against Kartel stemmed from an incident in August 2011. According to the prosecution, Williams and another man, Lamar Chow, were entrusted with two unlicensed firearms belonging to Kartel. The prosecution alleged that when the men failed to return the guns at an agreed time, Kartel summoned them to his home, where they were attacked.
Chow testified that the last thing he saw was Williams lying motionless on the ground. Williams was never seen again, and his body has not been recovered. The house where the incident allegedly took place burned down shortly after.

Despite the serious charges, Kartel and his co-defendants-Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John have always insisted on their innocence. They were sentenced to life imprisonment, with Kartel facing a minimum of 35 years in prison.
After exhausting appeals in Jamaica, Kartel’s legal team took the case to the Privy Council in London, arguing that the trial was compromised. They pointed out that a juror accused of attempting to bribe others should have been dismissed, which they claimed rendered the conviction unsafe.
In March, the Privy Council ruled in favor of Kartel, stating that the failure to remove the juror violated the defendants’ fundamental right to a fair trial. The court described the error as “fatal to the safety of the convictions which followed.” This decision prompted Jamaican authorities to reconsider whether to retry Kartel and his co-defendants.
On Wednesday, Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, one of the three judges presiding over the case at Jamaica’s Court of Appeal, announced the decision not to pursue a retrial. The court considered several factors, including the severity of the offense, the time elapsed since the original trial, the difficulty in securing witnesses and evidence, and the financial burden of a new trial.
Additionally, Kartel’s declining health was cited as a concern, with the court noting that a retrial could adversely affect his physical and mental well-being.
“We conclude that the interests of justice do not require a new trial,” Justice McDonald-Bishop stated, formally acquitting Kartel and his co-defendants. The decision was made amidst heightened security at the courthouse in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, reflecting the high public interest in the case.
Kartel’s release has been met with widespread reactions, particularly within the dancehall music community. Known for hits like “Clarks,” “Ramping Shop,” and “Summer Time,” Kartel has been a dominant figure in Jamaican music. His influence extends beyond music, with successful ventures in footwear, alcohol, and even a reality TV show, “Teacha’s Pet.”

Seani B, a presenter on BBC 1Xtra’s Dancehall Show, described Kartel’s release as a monumental event for Jamaica, dancehall music, and the Jamaican judicial system. “He’s easily one of the biggest dancehall artists in Jamaica,” Seani remarked. “And for the last 14 years, Kartel has probably become even more infamous. Now on his release, I would say he’s returned to a space that’s been awaiting him for so many years. There’s a whole new generation of dancehall fans that are just waiting for Vybz Kartel’s return to that music.”
Seani B, who was DJing at Boxpark in Croydon, South London, during the court’s announcement, said the reaction was jubilant. “It’s a relief for a lot of people, but at the same time, we’ve got to think about the family of the person that was murdered so many years ago,” he noted, acknowledging the ongoing pain for Clive Williams’s family.
As Vybz Kartel steps back into the public eye, his release marks a new chapter in his controversial career.
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