Since Vybz Kartel was found guilty of murder in 2014, he has remained in prison, serving his sentence. However, things took a turn for Vybz Kartel, as he became a free man after spending over ten years incarcerated.
On July 31, 2024, a Jamaican Court of Appeals refused to retry the singer for the murder charges after the 2014 judgment was overturned. Consequently, he has regained his freedom and is a free man.
The United Kingdom-based Privy Council Decision
Earlier in March 2024, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council moved to overturn the guilty verdict against Vybz Kartel. The Privy Council, which found evidence of juror tampering and misconduct in the 2014 trial, declared it a mistrial.
In one of the misconduct accusations, a juror had made a bribery allegation against his fellow jurors. In 2014, the dancehall singer was found guilty of the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams after he was reported missing. However, Williams’ body was never located by Jamaican police.
During the trial, police said they saw a text on Vybz Kartel’s phone referring to the body as “mincemeat.” The prosecution charged him as an accomplice to the murder of Williams. The prosecution claimed that Kartel had invited an unsuspecting Williams to his house, where he was allegedly beaten to death.
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Vybz Kartel Arrest and Charges
On September 29, 2011, the police arrested Vybz Kartel after they found cannabis on him. Subsequently, he was charged with conspiracy, firearm possession, and Barrington Burton’s murder by Jamaica’s Major Investigation Taskforce.
In 2012, after spending some months in prison, the singer published a book about his incarceration. The book, “The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto: Incarcerated but Not Silenced,” was co-written by Vybz Kartel and his business partner, Michael Dawson.
On March 23, 2012, the singer was granted a JMD$ 3,000,000 bond for the initial murder charge against Burton. However, he remained incarcerated, as he was also on trial for the murder of Williams.
Vybz Kartel and two other individuals, including Vanessa “Gaza Slim” Saddler, were arrested and charged with obstructing and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Saddler had tried to deceive the police by claiming that Williams had robbed her.
Due to a lack of jurors, Kartel’s trial was postponed from January 21, 2013, to July 11, 2013.
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Vybz Kartel’s Conviction
On July 24, 2013, a jury returned a not-guilty verdict regarding Kartel’s alleged murder of Barrington Burton. Vybz Kartel, though, was detained while the second murder investigation was ongoing.
On November 18, 2013, the trial for the murder of Clive Williams began. On March 13, 2014, after a 65-day trial, an eleven-member jury voted 10-1 in favor of a guilty verdict.
As a result, Vybz Kartel was sentenced to life imprisonment on April 3, 2014. However, Justice Lennox Campbell gave him the possibility of parole after 35 years.
What is Vybz Kartel Doing Now?
After the conviction was overturned, the Privy Council referred the case to the Court of Appeals for a retrial decision involving Vybz Kartel and co-defendants. Subsequently, a judicial panel made up of Justices David Fraser, Paulette Williams, and Marva McDonald-Bishop voted against a retrial.
According to reports, the people Vybz Kartel was charged with have also had their convictions overturned. The Court of Appeals said a new trial is not needed for justice. Kartel’s co-defendants are Andre St. John, Kahira Jones, and Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell.
However, it remains unclear whether Vybz Kartel is considering making a return to the Caribbean music scene. On the night of Wednesday, July 31, 2024, Kartel uploaded his first video following his release. In the video, he was kissing a woman and drinking champagne while seated in a moving car.
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Who is Vybz Kartel?
Born on January 7, 1976, Adidja Azim Palmer is a dancehall deejay from Jamaica, better known by his stage name, Vybz Kartel. He goes by several monikers, including Worl’ Boss and Teacha.
According to Rolling Stone, Kartel achieved folk-hero status in Jamaica with bold lyrics and a mischievous persona, captivating the dancehall audience and consistently challenging detractors.
Some of Vybz Kartel’s singles include “Romping Shop” (2009), “Dancehall Hero” (2010), and “Summer Time” (2011). Before his incarceration, Vybz Kartel had collaborated with many hip-hop and R&B artists, such as Major Lazer, Rihanna, Missy Elliot, and Alison Hinds.
Several Western artists, like Drake, have recognized him as an inspiration for their dancehall-infused work.
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