Vybz Kartel's conviction for murder has been overturned! That's right, the dancehall legend has been cleared of the guilty verdict and could be a free man again in a matter of days. It all went down on Thursday, March 14, 2024, when the highest court of appeal for Jamaica and other Commonwealth countries overturned Kartel's sentence. Can you believe it? It's been exactly 3633 days since his conviction on April 3, 2014, and now he can finally breathe a sigh of relief. For those of you who may not remember, Kartel (aka Adidja Palmer) was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 35 years for the 2011 murder of his associate, Clive 'Lizard' Williams. That sentence was later reduced to 32 and ½ years in 2020 to account for time spent in jail awaiting trial. As reported by Reuters, Kartel and his codefendants took their final shot at clearing their names by appealing to the Privy Council in London, the highest court of appeal in Jamaica and other Commonwealth countries. When will he be back on the streets? Read on to grasp the timeline of events from his arrest, trial, conviction, sentence, appeal, overturning of sentence, release date, and retrials.
Vybz Kartel before his incarceration
Who is Vybz Kartel?
Vybz Kartel! A man with many names, including his legal name, Adidja Azim Palmer, and the infamous Aditicha. This dancehall sensation was born in 1976 and has been rocking the music scene ever since. But before he became the king of dancehall, Kartel started off as a lyricist and producer for some of the biggest names in the biz. But it wasn't until the 2000s that he truly exploded onto the scene, leaving a trail of hits in his wake. His Jamaican roots run deep, but his music has reached global success. In 2009, he made it onto the U.S. charts with his smash hit "Romping Shop" featuring the one and only Spice. Let's not forget his hit songs like "Clarks" and "Summertime" that have us all dancing the night away. And let me tell you, this man has collaborated with some heavy hitters, including Rihanna, Jay-Z, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, and Pitbull.
Spice vs Kartel - Romping Shop Scenes
But what's a dancehall artist without a good feud, am I right? Kartel's feud with Mavado is one for the books. These two were initially allies, but things quickly turned sour as they released diss tracks aimed at each other. Mavado represents the Gully side, and Kartel represents the Gaza side. Things got pretty heated, and there were some violent outcomes for their fans. But thankfully, cooler heads prevailed when the Jamaican Deputy Commissioner called a meeting between the two, resulting in them burying the hatchet and calling for an end to the violence between their rival fans. Talk about a plot twist! And if that wasn't enough, Kartel also graced our screens with his reality TV show, "Teacha's Pet," which aired on Jamaican TV in 2011. But wait, there's more! Kartel's success has even led him to launch his own lines of shoes, alcohol, and even condoms. Now, that's what I call a true businessman.
Vybz Kartel vs Mavado Infamous Sting Clash
How was Kartel Arrested?
Vybz was first arrested for some cannabis possession. But don't worry, those charges were later dropped. Phew! But then, the Major Investigation Taskforce (MIT) decided to do some digging and found some illegal firearms in his house. Yikes! There's more. The police also accused him of being involved in the deaths of two men from the Portmore district. Now, that's some serious stuff. One murder case was dropped due to lack of evidence, but the dancehall king and three other men were charged with the killing of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. I don't know about you, but this sounds like a lot of drama to me. I mean, we've got drugs, illegal firearms, and murder charges all in one story. It's like a crime thriller but with a reggae twist.
Vybz Kartel Led in Handcuffs on Charges of Marijuana Possession - 2011
The Trial
The infamous Kartel trial for the murder of Mr. Williams kicked off in November of 2013, and it was quite the spectacle. The prosecutors were on a roll, alleging that Mr. Williams and his buddy Lamar Chow had gotten their hands on two unlicensed firearms belonging to none other than Aditicha himself. According to the prosecution's arguments, things took a dark turn when the guns were not returned on time. Lizard and Chow were summoned to Kartel's house, and let's just say things did not end well for Mr. Williams. According to the prosecutors, he met his untimely demise at the hands of Kartel, who conveniently had evidence from his own cellphone to support their case. Chow took the stand and claimed that they were attacked, and the last thing he saw was poor Lizard lying motionless on the ground. And just when you thought things couldn't get any more twisted, the house where everything went down mysteriously burned down a few days later. Hmm, suspicious much? To add fuel to the fire, Mr. Williams' body was never found. The New York Times then reported that Jamaican police had testified that they saw a text on Kartel's phone stating that poor Mr. Williams' body had been turned into "mincemeat," making the body part too small and likely scattered and, thus, unlikely to ever be found. I mean, come on, that's just plain gruesome. All four defendants, including Kartel, pleaded not guilty and have been sticking to their story of innocence ever since.
Kartel and Coaccused Leave Court
Kartel’s Sentencing and the Aftermath
On April 3, 2014, Vybz Kartel was sentenced to life in prison, with a tiny glimmer of hope for parole after 35 years. After a long and grueling appeal process, Kartel's sentence was reduced to 32 ½ years. Phew, that's precisely 2 ½ years off, thanks to the time he spent in jail awaiting trial. The trial itself was a whopping 65 days long, making it the most extended criminal hearing in the history of Jamaica's circuit court system. I mean, that's longer than some relationships these days. Since Vybz was very popular, there were fears of possible riots, violence, or other criminal activities associated with his fans. The BBC even reported that the anti-riot police had to come in and cordon off streets around the Supreme Court. According to local reports, about 200 people broke through barricades and started chanting "Free Kartel!" at one of the intersections.
Life in Prison
Despite being locked up since 2011, Vybz Kartel's musical genius couldn't be contained. The demand for new tunes from this dancehall legend was so high that he found a way to keep the hits coming from his cell. According to a Rolling Stones report, using his trusty smartphone and its handy voice note feature, Vybz Kartel didn't let prison bars stop him from creating bangers. He released singles left and right, and before we knew it, they were compiled into a monstrous 61-song album. Talk about dedication to the craft and optimal productivity! He kept dropping new tracks while behind bars, including the 2016 hit "Fever." And get this, it was so fire that it went gold in 2020, certified by the RIAA. Take that, cell walls!
Vybz - Ninjaman in Prison Attire
The Appeal
The defendants' appeals were finally allowed on Thursday, March 14, 2024; it was a wild ride. Their slick lawyers came in guns blazing, arguing that the original trial was a hot mess and completely unfair. And they had some juicy evidence to back it up. Apparently, the trial judge mishandled some serious allegations. One of the jurors allegedly offered their fellow jurors a whopping 500,000 Jamaican dollars (around $3,200 for my non-math-savvy friends) to sway their verdict to not guilty. The learned men also argued that the jurors were sent to deliberate late in the day, putting them under "undue pressure." Who can make a rational decision after a long day of sitting in a stuffy courtroom? The defendants also claimed that a crucial piece of evidence - a text message supposedly sent from Kartel's phone - was obtained sneaky and shady. According to them, it was a total breach of guidelines. However, the panel did not rule on any of these matters. Instead, they focused on the severe allegation of bribery. The guilty verdicts were dismissed, leaving everyone in shock and disbelief. Who knew a little bit of cash could sway a whole jury?
Vybz Kartel's Lawyer argues before the Appeal Privy Council
Why and How the Appeal Succeeded
Kartel and codefendants successfully appealed their conviction on the grounds of juror misconduct. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London overturned their 2014 conviction due to some allegations of jury shenanigans. On that fateful day of Thursday, March 14, 2024, the courtroom was buzzing with excitement as the news broke. Turns out, a juror, named in court documents as "Juror X," had allegedly tried to bribe other jury members. Even more shocking is that this juror was allowed to remain on the jury. Despite Juror X's sneaky attempts, the jury still found Kartel, Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and André St. John guilty of murder in a majority vote of 10-1. The Privy Council ruled that allowing Juror X to stay on the jury was a major no-no and infringed on the defendant's right to a fair trial under the Jamaican Constitution. According to statements made by the court during the ruling, "Allowing Juror X to remain on the jury is fatal to the safety of the convictions which followed." The court further declared, "It was an infringement of the appellant's fundamental right to a fair hearing under the Jamaican Constitution."
News Alert after Vybz Kartel Conviction was Overturned on Thursday, March 14th, 2024.
Overturned – Vybz Kartel Release Date?
Yes, we all know that his fans are itching to see him break free from prison chains and take over the dancehall scene again. But hold your horses because his lawyers and the prosecution are keeping their lips sealed tight. So, when will Kartel be back in action? Well, my dear friends, the answer to that question is still shrouded in mystery. The only way we'll find out is by unraveling the court ruling documents, which will happen soon. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why can't they just spill the beans already?" Trust me, I feel you. But let's look at the bright side; the anticipation is building up and keeping us on the edge of our seats. I acknowledge this situation is like a suspenseful movie, and we're all eagerly waiting for the climax.
Will there be a Retrial? (If yes, when?)
But before Vybz fans over-celebrate his newfound freedom, let's pump the brakes for a hot second. The ruling may have opened the door for another possible trial, meaning the drama is far from over. Yes, my friends, the Jamaican authorities (aka the prosecutors in another appeals court) will have the final say on whether or not Kartel and his crew will have to face the music again. Now, I know what you're all thinking. "How can this be? Didn't the court just overturn their conviction? Are we stuck in some kind of legal limbo here?" Well, my dear reader, the court didn't find Kartel and his posse innocent. Oh no, that would be too easy. Instead, they just opened the door for a potential retrial. It's like when you order a pizza, the delivery guy forgets your garlic knots. You're not getting a refund, but you might get some free garlic knots in your next order. It's all about perspective, people.
Fans and Social Media Reactions
The court's decision was met with cheers and celebrations from Kartel's loyal fans, who have eagerly awaited this moment for years. And let's be honest, who can blame them? Kartel's music has been a staple in the dancehall scene for decades, and now he can continue to bless us with his killer beats and catchy lyrics.
BBC Breaks the News after Kartel Sentence is Overturned 
Vybz fans delightful reactions on X (formerly Twitter)
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