Jamaican dancehall star, Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, has been released from prison after his murder conviction was overturned.
The 48-year-old artiste was originally jailed in 2014 for the killing of Clive “Lizard” Williams.
However, UK judges overturned his conviction in March, and on Wednesday, Jamaican appeal judges decided he would not face a retrial.
Kartel, who has always claimed his innocence, was accused of killing Williams in 2011.
During the 2014 trial, it was said that Williams and another man were attacked at Kartel’s home after failing to return firearms they were holding for him. Williams was never seen alive again, and his body was never found.
Kartel, along with co-defendants Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John, was sentenced to life in prison, with Kartel expected to serve at least 35 years.
Kartel’s legal team argued that his trial was unfair due to a juror being accused of trying to bribe others. The Privy Council in London agreed and ruled that the trial was not safe.
Jamaican judges weighed the seriousness of the case against the time that has passed, the lack of witnesses, and Kartel’s poor health before deciding not to retry him.
Vybz Kartel is one of Jamaica’s most famous artistes, known for hits like “Clarks,” “Ramping Shop,” and “Summer Time.”
His release is a significant moment for Jamaica, dancehall music, and the country’s legal system. Many fans are eager to see what he will do next, but the case has also brought attention to the family of the victim, Clive Williams, who was murdered many years ago.
