In a landmark decision, Jamaican entertainer Vybz Kartel, along with his co-accused, was acquitted by the Court of Appeal, ending a long-standing legal battle over the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. The ruling, delivered by a three-judge panel comprising Justices Marva McDonald-Bishop, Paulette Williams, and David Fraser, concluded that there would be no retrial for the accused.
The judgment was announced on Wednesday, providing closure to a case that had gripped the nation for years. Before the final ruling, the court released an abbreviated summary to aid public understanding, with the complete judgment accessible on the Court of Appeal’s official website.
Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, along with Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John, were initially convicted in 2014 for the murder of Williams, which occurred in September 2011. Despite an appeal to the Jamaican Court of Appeal in 2020, their convictions were upheld.
However, the case took a significant turn when it was presented to the UK-based Privy Council. On March 14, 2024, the Privy Council overturned the murder convictions due to juror misconduct, and referred the case back to the Jamaican Court of Appeal to determine the possibility of a retrial. The Court of Appeal’s recent decision not to pursue a retrial effectively closes the case, bringing an end to one of Jamaica’s most high-profile legal dramas.
