Decision on Vybz Kartel’s Retrial to Be Handed Down in July
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Entertainers Vybz Kartel, Shawn Storm and their co-accused will have to wait until July to hear if they will be retried.
Vybz KartelIn court on Tuesday during the hearing in the Court of Appeal, Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop made the announcement following the rebuttal of defence attorneys Isat Buchanan and John Clarke.
“Now the hard work is to begin,” said McDonald-Bishop who also told the court that the question of a retrial is never an easy matter, especially when a serious offence has been committed and a lengthy time has passed.
“You have given us a lot to think about,” she continued, adding that the court is mindful of all issues, especially Kartel’s health concerns.
The Justice said it is imperative that the court not only hand down a judgement but also provide reasons for its decisions.
McDonald Bishop noted that the court is mindful of Vybz Kartel’s illness and will expedite the process possibly setting aside other cases already before the court.
She ended the session by extending commendations to the prosecution and defense for their work throughout the process.
Kartel, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, along with Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John were sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
The murder convictions were quashed by the United Kingdom Privy Council because of jury tampering.
Kartel, Shawn Storm, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John were charged with the September 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
The Court of Appeal upheld their convictions in 2020. However, on March 14, 2024, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, Jamaica’s final court of appeal, overturned the convictions on the grounds of juror misconduct.
The appellate court started hearing arguments on the substantive matter last week Tuesday with the appellants arguing against the granting of a retrial.
Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, along with Justices Paulette Williams and David Fraser, will decide if the case will be retried.
