Vybz Kartel Released After 13 Years in Prison

The Jamaican Court of Appeal decided on Wednesday not to retry dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, following the overturning of his 2014 murder conviction.

This decision grants Kartel freedom after a decade in prison.

In March, the UK-based Privy Council annulled Kartel’s conviction for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. The council cited juror misconduct during the initial trial as the reason for overturning the conviction.

Despite this, the council left it to a three-judge panel in Jamaica to decide if a retrial was necessary. On Wednesday, the Jamaican Court of Appeal concluded that “the interests of justice do not require a new trial,” according to the Jamaica Observer.

Kartel and three co-defendants were convicted on March 14, 2014, after a two-month trial. Prosecutors alleged that Williams was murdered over missing firearms and that Kartel lured Williams to his home, where he was beaten to death.

During the trial, Jamaican police testified they found a text message on Kartel’s phone suggesting Williams’ body was dismembered and disposed of. Williams’ body was never found.

A key part of Kartel’s appeal was the accusation of juror misconduct, with one juror attempting to bribe others.

Despite these allegations, the trial judge continued the trial instead of declaring a mistrial, which became central to Kartel’s appeals process.

At the time of his conviction, Kartel was one of Jamaica’s top artists, known for working with international stars like Rihanna, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, and Pitbull.

Remarkably, he continued to produce music while incarcerated, including the 2016 single “Fever.”