KINGSTON – Jamaican dancehall legend Vybz Kartel is now a free man after over 13 years locked up in prison over the alleged killing of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams – whose body was never found.
The 48-year-old artist was arrested in 2011 and handed a life sentence in 2014 along with his co-accused Shawn ‘Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St. John.
St John and Kartel were slapped with 35 years and 30 years minimum, while Campbell and Jones got 25 years minimum.
After a protracted legal fight over the years, their appeal was eventually taken to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, and on March 14, 2024, their murder convictions were overturned on the grounds of juror misconduct.
It was however left to the Court of Appeal to decide on whether to order a retrial or grant a complete acquittal.
In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the Jamaica Court of Appeal ruled that the trio will not face a new trial and were now free.
Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop announced the decision saying: ‘We conclude that the interest of justice do not require a new trial to be ordered for the appellants.’
“We therefore make the following order: judgments and verdicts of acquittal are entered in relation to the appellants. That is it. The appellants are free.”
Discover more from Nehanda Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
