Following the appeal, the Privy Council's directive to return the trial to the Jamaican courts will decide whether the defendant will be acquitted or face a retrial
Dancehall Icon, Vybz Kartel
The Privy Council has ordered the murder case of dancehall icon Vybz Kartel back to the local courts, requesting a determination on whether a retrial should proceed. The convictions of his three co-accused for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams have been overturned.
Meanwhile, the journey toward freedom appears lengthy as Kartel and his co-convicts will remain imprisoned until the proceedings recommence in Jamaica. There's a chance that after a retrial, the defendant could be acquitted, opening up the possibility of legal action against the state for their time in confinement.
During the February appeal, the prosecution notified the Privy Council that in the event Vybz Kartel's murder conviction is overturned, they intend to initiate a retrial. Conversely, attorneys representing Kartel and his three co-convicts contested the notion of a retrial, expressing apprehensions regarding fairness given the circumstances.
Kartel has been serving a life sentence since 2014, convicted in connection with the disappearance of his associate Clive "Lizard" Williams, despite being in custody since 2011. Their conviction occurred in 2014. Palmer has consistently asserted their innocence. The conviction was primarily based on circumstantial evidence, including video and phone records from their BlackBerry Torch, as well as testimony from a discredited witness.
