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Vybz Kartel Set To Be Released After Years In Prison
Vybz Kartel To Be Released After Years Behind Bars
Reggae dancehall star, Vybz Kartel, is now a free man. The Jamaica Court of Appeal has ordered him and his three codefendants to be freed after the ailing star spent years behind bars.
Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer and his three co-defendants have been behind bars in a Jamaican prison since their arrests in 2011, and subsequent 2014 conviction, for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
According to Fox5NY, in a unanimous decision Wednesday, the court decided against a retrial in the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams, whose body was never found. Meaning that Vybz Kartel, Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John will be released after years behind bars.
“The appellants are freed. We conclude that the interest of justice does not require a new trial to be ordered,” the court read.
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The news outlet shared that the court cited the ‘psychological and financial effects that it would have on the appellants,’ referring to the deteriorating health condition of Adidja Palmer.
The dancehall star’s defense has cited the severe lockdown conditions he’s been in since 2011. They’ve described his holding as a brick cell with no air circulation, no water, and a bucket for a toilet.
“His neck was swollen, if you think of a shirt that is about 18.5 inches in the neck area, you couldn’t close the collar on his neck and that’s how bad it is in this moment,” Kartel’s defense described to the outlet.
Back in 2023, a sworn medical affidavit from Kartel’s private doctor told authorities that Adidja’s Graves’ Disease and heart condition were getting worse, and that if he did not get surgery soon, it could be fatal.
On Wednesday, the court said that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that Kartel would not be able to complete a potentially longer sentence if there were to be a retrial, which means that his three co-defendants won’t face a retrial.
