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Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel’s 2014 murder conviction was overturned on Thursday by the Privy Council in London.
Adidja Palmer, known professionally as Vybz Kartel, has been incarcerated since 2011 over the disappearance of his associate Clive “Lizard” Williams. Williams’ body was never found. After a record-breaking 64-day trial in Kingston, Kartel and three co-defendants were convicted in 2014. Kartel received a life sentence with a minimum of 35 years, later reduced to 32.5 years on appeal.
Kartel’s last available appeal reached the Privy Council, the highest court for Jamaica and certain other Commonwealth nations. His lawyers argued that the original judge mishandled allegations of juror misconduct. A juror allegedly offered fellow jurors money to acquit the defendants.
The Privy Council, led by Judge David Lloyd-Jones, agreed with the defense. They determined that the original judge’s decision to allow the juror accused of bribery to remain on the jury compromised the fairness of the trial. While the Council did not rule on Kartel’s guilt or innocence, they quashed the convictions due to the potential for jury tampering. The case will now return to the Jamaican Court of Appeal, which will decide whether Kartel and his co-defendants face a new trial.
This decision marks a significant development in a long-running saga. Vybz Kartel remains one of Jamaica’s most popular musicians, with collaborations alongside international stars like Jay-Z and Rihanna. While his conviction is overturned, it’s unclear if he will be retried. The Jamaican Court of Appeal will make that determination in the coming months.
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