A Jamaican appeals court on Wednesday freed a world-renowned Jamaican Dance Hall star after 13 years behind bars for murder, but the verdict has refueled a debate as to whether Jamaica should ditch the British Privy Council as its apex court or switch to the Trinidad-based umbrella Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for final decisions.
Superstar Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, walked out of a correctional center in the Jamaican capital after the appeals court had opted to free him rather than order a retrial for the 2011 murder of associate Clive “Lizard Williams in a nasty row over an illegal weapon.
Sentenced to life in prison back in 2014 with parole only possible after 35 years, Kartel,48, is the beneficiary of a Privy Court ruling in March when the British law lords not only quashed his conviction but had sent the case back to Jamaica for local judges to determine whether he should be retired or freed because there was clear evidence of jury tampering during his original trial.
After weeks of research and deliberations, the court opted for freedom for Kartel, setting off massive street celebrations involving thousands of fans and supporters as heavily armed police and soldiers monitored the jubilation. It is unclear when and whether he will stage a freedom super concert now that he is emancipated as was the case with Reggae don Buju Banton after he had returned home in 2019 after serving a narcotics sentence in the US. Kartel was charged along with associates Shawn “Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John were convicted of the September 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. They were all freed as well.
“The constitution works. It has always been our belief,” said attorney Isat Buchanan. “This is their independence, their emancipation, July 31st for them,” he said, referring to the verdict being handed down a day before Caribbean-wide August 1 celebrations for the official end of slavery in the region.
As the jibilation continues, Kartel is at home with loved ones even as the northern Caribbean island is grappling with a major row between the governing Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) over constitutional reform that should or not involve the ditching of the British court in favor of the CCJ which is the Caribbean Community’s final criminal, civil and trade dispute settlement court. The JLP is in favor of retaining the Brits, while the PNP wants it gone like yesterday contending that it would complete Jamaican independence along with a transition to a republic like Guyana, Trinidad, Barbados and Dominica. The issue is currently stalemated as any government attempting to do so would need support from the opposition to acquire the two thirds parliamentary majority and support of locals in a referendum. Reform hearings are currently underway.
“I think the fair treatment of this kind of high-profile matter by the Privy Council is another reason why many Jamaicans, including myself, support its retention as our country’s final appellate court,” said attorney Tom Tavares Finson. “Certainly as lead defense attorney at trial, I believe the judgment is in the interest of justice and lends credibility to the various objections which Kartel’s defense team had raised at trial,” he said.
As the performer enjoys his first full day of freedom, his fans are reminding all and sundry that he had scored a series of hits from behind bars but fans are making it clear they are looking forward to a victory concert in the coming weeks.
