VYBZ KARTEL MURDER CASE: COURT REVERSES CONVICTION

On Thursday, March 14, 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.

During the 2014 murder trial, there were allegations that a juror had attempted to influence others by offering a sum of $500,000 for a specific verdict. Despite these allegations, the trial proceeded, resulting in Vybz’s conviction, as reported by the Privy Council. However, on Thursday, the council declared that the conviction should be overturned due to juror misconduct.

“The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has determined that the appeals should be upheld, leading to the annulment of the appellants’ convictions due to juror misconduct. The case is to be referred back to the Court of Appeal of Jamaica for consideration regarding the possibility of a retrial for the murder of the deceased,” stated a release from the Privy Council.

The Jamaican Dancehall star has been imprisoned for over ten years, on a murder he claims he did not commit.