Judgment day for Vybz Kartel, co-convicted

The day many Jamaicans and dancehall fans across the world have been waiting on has finally arrived. 

At 11:00 a.m. (local time), the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council will deliver its judgment in the murder conviction appeal of dancehall star Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer and his three co-convicted.

It is a day the men have been waiting on since they were first handed the guilty verdict for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams - over 10 years ago. 

Since that time, Kartel, fellow entertainer Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell and their co-appellants Andre St John and Khaira Jones have denied their involvement in the matter. 

But, following the efforts of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and their star witness, the accused men were found guilty by a jury of their peers. 

The facts of the case are that “after a trial lasting 64 days before the trial judge and a jury in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston, Jamaica, the appellants were convicted of Mr Williams’ murder. The prosecution’s case was that the appellants murdered Mr Williams on 16 August 2011 after he failed to return two unlicensed firearms, which the second appellant, Mr Palmer, had given him for safekeeping. Mr Williams was not seen or heard from after that date, and his body has never been found.”

During the February hearing, a key issue that detained the Law Lords was the question of whether the trial process was fair given the incidents with jury tampering.

Lawyers who have weighed in on the matter believe that the pendulum of justice can swing either way - a full acquittal or a retrial.

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