Dancehall legend Vybz Kartel freed from prison after 13 years behind bars
Kartel, along with his co-accused Shawn ‘Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St. John, was convicted for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams, whose body was never found. The Court of Appeal ruled today that the four men will not face a new trial.
The Court of Appeal’s decision, delivered unanimously, concluded that a new trial was unnecessary. Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop stated, ‘We conclude that the interest of justice do not require a new trial to be ordered for the appellants.’
Earlier this year, the Privy Council in London, Jamaica’s highest court of appeal, heard the appeal, arguing that a juror accused of attempting to bribe others should have been removed from the trial. Although the Privy Council overturned the convictions, it did not immediately release the men, passing the decision to Jamaica’s Court of Appeal.
Vybz Kartel is one of the Caribbean’s most popular musicians, known for his work with international stars like Rihanna and Jay-Z. The original trial, which lasted 64 days and was the longest in Jamaican history, resulted in life sentences for Kartel and his co-accused.
Kartel received a minimum of 35 years, St. John 30 years, and Campbell and Jones 25 years each. Throughout their imprisonment, Kartel and his co-accused have consistently maintained their innocence.
