Vybz Kartel, the popular dancehall artist whose real name is Adidja Azim Palmer, has been released from prison following a judge’s decision not to pursue a retrial for murder charges. The artist had been arrested back in 2011 alongside three other men in relation to the killing of Clive “Lizard” Williams. Palmer faced a lengthy 64-day murder trial in 2014, ultimately resulting in a sentence of life imprisonment with a 35-year minimum term. However, in March of this year, the case was overturned by the UK’s privy council and passed back to Jamaica’s court of appeal, which had the final say on whether or not to pursue a retrial.
In London’s appeal against the conviction, a juror was accused of tampering with the trial through bribery and consequently removed. Ultimately, on July 31, the appeal court decided to not send the case to court again, and Palmer and his three co-accused will be released from prison, according to the BBC. The court cited several factors in their decision, including the severity of the offence in question, lack of witness access, the cost of a retrial, and Palmer’s poor health condition. They concluded that the “interests of justice” did not necessitate another trial.
According to reports from the initial 2014 trial, Williams and another individual named Lamar Chow were summoned to Palmer’s Kingston house in August 2011, regarding the alleged failure to return two unlicensed firearms owned by Palmer. Days later, the house burned down, and Williams’ body was never found, but Chow testified that he saw Williams motionless on the ground. Palmer and three others have consistently protested their innocence throughout trials and convictions.
These reports and the court’s recent decision have been covered by the Guardian and BBC among other news outlets. Vybz Kartel’s release is considered a significant event in the Jamaican legal and music scenes, given his high profile and the controversial nature of the original case
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