The Court of Appeal has dismissed Dancehall legend Vybz Kartel’s appeal of his murder conviction this morning, 2 years since the appeal was heard.
The Judgement was handed down by Justice Dennis Morrison over teleconferencing with Attorneys involved in the appeal. Kartel’s Attorneys are to head to the Privy Council within seven days to file the note on sentencing regarding the credit the appellants are entitled to regarding their time spent in custody.
On Thursday, Kartel’s lead attorney, Queen’s Counsel Tom Tavares Finson said the team was hoping for the best but preparing for the worst, adding the artiste may have to go to the Privy Council to get justice.
Vybz Kartel will continue to serve his life sentence in relation to the murder of Clive Lizard Williams. Kartel whose given name is Adidjah Palmer was sentenced to life in prison in 2014 — serving 35 years before being eligible for parole. The ‘Vybz Kartel trial’ was one of the longest criminal trials in Jamaica’s history. The near six-month trial ended with a 10-1 decision to convict Kartel his three co-accused.
Six years ago, the dancehall legend and three of his co-accused were sentenced in the Home Circuit Court in relation to the 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
Kartel’s co-accused Andre St. John, who was ordered to serve 30 years, Shawn Campbell and Kahira Jones, who were both sentenced to a minimum 25 years before being eligible for parole, will also remain behind bars.
