VYBZ KARTEL FREED FROM PRISON, COURT RULES AGAINST RETRIAL 

Jamaican artiste Vybz Kartel and his co-accused were released from prison on Wednesday, July 31 after the Court of Appeal ruled against a retrial in the case involving the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. 

The men had been incarcerated from 2011, but they were sentenced to life in prison in 2014. In May 2024, the dancehall star remained behind bars after a judge rejected the application submitted by their attorneys.

Supreme Court Justice Andrea Thomas ruled that in the absence of a verdict of acquittal by the Privy Council the charge of murder remains in effect for Kartel, and his co-accused Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell and Andre St John.

“In view of the fact that their appeal is not yet determined they should remain in custody until their appeal is concluded. That is until a verdict of acquittal is entered or there is a decision for a retrial,” Thomas said.

On March 14, 2024, the Privy Council of the UK overturned Jamaican artist Vybz Kartel’s murder conviction, directing the case back to a lower court for a decision on whether to proceed with a retrial for the dancehall icon. 

According to his attorney, Isat Buchanan, the next hearing will be at the court of appeals in Jamaica. Vybz Kartel, also known as Adidja Palmer, will continue to be detained for now. Alongside Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St. John. He was convicted in 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

“A huge statement was made by the quashing of the murder convictions and that is where we are at. Yesterday Mr. Palmer was a convicted felon, today he is an innocent man,” said his lawyer.