KINGSTON, Jamaica – Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, has been released from Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre following a dramatic legal victory.
Kartel, along with his co-accused Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John, was initially convicted in 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. The quartet’s convictions were upheld by the Jamaican Court of Appeal in 2020. However, their legal team pursued the matter further, leading to an appeal to the UK Privy Council.
On March 14, 2024, the Privy Council overturned the murder convictions due to jury misconduct, leading to the case being remanded to the Court of Appeal of Jamaica. The court decided not to retry the case, resulting in Kartel’s release on Wednesday evening.
Kartel’s release marks the end of a significant chapter in Jamaican legal and entertainment history, with his case having drawn considerable public and media attention over the past 13 years.
