The Court of Appeal has ruled that dancehall artist Vybz Kartel and his three co-accused will not face a retrial for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. The unanimous decision, delivered on Wednesday, effectively frees the men after nearly 13 years of legal proceedings.
Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, leading a three-judge panel with Paulette Williams and David Fraser, announced the verdict. “Having regard to all considerations the court has taken into account, we conclude that the interest of justice do not require a new trial to be ordered for the appellants,” Justice McDonald-Bishop stated. She added, “Judgments and verdicts of acquittal are entered in relation to the appellants.”
The decision comes just a day before Jamaica’s Emancipation Day celebrations, marking a significant moment in the country’s legal history.
Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, along with Shawn ‘Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St. John, have served over 12 years in prison. They have consistently maintained their innocence in the death of Williams.
The case against them began in 2011 when prosecutors alleged that Williams was killed at Kartel’s home in Havendale, St Andrew. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on cellphone records and testimony from Lamar “Wee” Chow, the sole eyewitness.
Following a 64-day trial in 2014 – the longest in Jamaica’s history – the men were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Kartel and St John received minimum sentences of 35 and 30 years respectively, while Campbell and Jones were given 25-year minimums.
The legal journey continued with an appeal in April 2020, where the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions but reduced their parole eligibility by two and a half years each.
A significant turning point came when the UK-based Privy Council allowed an appeal on grounds including improper obtainment of crucial cellular evidence and jury tampering. In March of this year, the Privy Council overturned the convictions, citing that a juror accused of attempted bribery should have been removed from the trial.
The Privy Council’s decision highlighted that Justice Lennox Campbell, the original trial judge, erred in allowing the accused juror to participate in the final verdict. This, according to the Council, compromised the safety of the convictions and violated the appellant’s right to a fair trial.
Following the Privy Council’s ruling, the case was directed back to the Court of Appeal to determine whether a retrial was necessary. Today’s decision by the Court of Appeal marks the end of this prolonged legal battle, resulting in the freedom of Jamicaica’s Dancehall strar, Vybz Kartel and his co-accused.
