- Dancehall fans worldwide are celebrating after a Jamaican Court of Appeal decided not to retry Vybz Kartel, effectively freeing the singer after his 2014 murder conviction
- This joyous news follows the Privy Council’s March decision to overturn the conviction due to juror misconduct during Kartel’s initial trial
- The Court of Appeal concluded that “the interests of justice do not require a new trial,” sparking widespread elation among Kartel’s global fanbase.
Dancehall enthusiasts erupted in celebration on Wednesday as a Jamaican Court of Appeal declined to retry Vybz Kartel, effectively freeing the dancehall icon after his 2014 murder conviction was overturned earlier this year.
In March, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council overturned Kartel’s conviction for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, citing evidence of juror misconduct.
Despite this, the Privy Council left the final decision to a three-person court of appeals in Jamaica to either retry Kartel and his co-defendants or release them.
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The Court of Appeal chose the latter, stating, “The interests of justice do not require a new trial to be ordered,” as reported by the Jamaica Observer.
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Rolling Stone reported that the original trial, which led to the 2014 conviction of Kartel and three co-defendants, lasted over two months.
Prosecutors argued that Williams was killed over missing guns and that Kartel had lured him to his home before he was beaten to death.
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During the trial, Jamaican police testified about a text message on Kartel’s phone claiming Williams’ body was turned to “mincemeat,” though the body was never found.
Potential juror misconduct, particularly the accusation of a juror offering bribes, became a central issue in Kartel’s appeals process.
The judge’s decision to continue the trial despite this allegation was a significant point of contention.
