Why Vybz Kartel Was Released Despite Serious Murder Conviction

The Jamaica Court of Appeal ordered Vybz Kartel and his three codefendants to be freed after the ailing dancehall star spent over a decade behind bars.

In a unanimous decision Wednesday, the court decided against a retrial in the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, whose body was never found. 

The stunning decision means that Vybz Kartel, Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John will be released after years behind bars.

“The appellants are freed.”— Jamaica Court of Appeal ruled.

“We conclude that the interest of justice does not require a new trial to be ordered,” the court read. 

The court cited the “psychological and financial effects that it would have on the appellants,” referring to the health condition of Vybz Kartel. His defense has cited the severe lockdown conditions he’s been in since 2011. They’ve described his holding as a brick cell with no air circulation, no water, and a bucket for a toilet.”

His neck was swollen, if you think of a shirt that is about 18.5 inches in the neck area, you couldn’t close the collar on his neck and that’s how bad it is in this moment,” his defense described. “His face is actually swollen. And one other thing. He always wears glasses; in this condition, that causes his eyes to protrude.”In 2023, a sworn medical affidavit from Kartel’s private doctor notified authorities that his Graves’ Disease and heart condition were getting worse, and that if he did not get surgery soon, it could be fatal.

 The court said Wednesday, that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that Kartel would not be able to complete a potentially longer sentence if there were to be a retrial.

This also means that Kartel’s three co-defendants won’t face a retial.

Kartel – whose real name is Adidja Palmer – and his three co-defendants have been behind bars in a Jamaican prison since their arrests in 2011, and subsequent 2014 conviction, for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, whose body was never found.⁴defendants made an appeal back in 2020, but the convictions were upheld.

The appeal was then pushed to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, Jamaica’s final court of appeal, in 2024, which overturned the convictions due to juror misconduct.Despite the big win, their fight for freedom has hung in the balance. The Privy Council in effect, kicked the case back to the Jamaican Court of Appeals to make the ultimate decision.

A prior medical report by Kartel’s well-respected private physician, Dr. Karen Phillips, suggested the superstar would need surgery as soon as possible. The report obtained exclusively by FOX 5 NY detailed his battle with thyroid disease. 

Medical report obtained exclusively by FOX 5 NY.The report obtained exclusively by FOX 5 NY detailed his battle with thyroid disease. 

According to the initial report, despite medication, it had not gone into remission.

Tell us what is happening near you. Reach us through +254724114691 or info@pronetv.co.ke

Leave a Reply