A Jamaican court of appeals declined on Wednesday to retry Vybz Kartel after the dancehall star’s 2014 murder conviction was overturned earlier this year, making him a free man after a decade in prison.
In March, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council overturned the conviction against Kartel, who in 2014 was found guilty of murdering Clive “Lizard” Williams, citing evidence of juror misconduct in the initial trial.
However, the Privy Council left the final decision to a three-person court of appeals in Jamaica. The panel had to decide whether to retry the murder case against Kartel and his co-defendants or release them. On Wednesday, 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.
Fans celebrated and broke down barriers to mob attorney Isat Buchanan as he emerged from the Court of Appeal in downtown Kingston. They chanted “Free worl’ boss!” in support of Vybz Kartel.
The initial trial against Kartel and three co-defendants spanned just over two months before the four men were convicted on March 14, 2014. Prosecutors argued that Williams was killed over missing guns and that Kartel had lured him to his home before Williams was beaten to death. Jamaican police had testified they saw a text on Kartel’s phone indicating that Williams’ body was turned to “mincemeat.” Williams’ body was never found.
During the murder trial, one juror was accused of offering bribes to other jurors. Despite this, the judge chose to continue the trial rather than dismiss it. This alleged juror misconduct became central to Kartel’s appeals process over the years.
At the time of his conviction, Kartel was one of Jamaica’s biggest artists and had collaborated with international stars like Rihanna, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, and Pitbull. He continued to release music while in prison, including the 2016 single “Fever.”