Vybz Kartel: Jamaican Star Wins Appeal Over 2014 Conviction

• Dancehall singer Vybz Kartel successfully appealed his murder conviction at the Privy Council in London
• The Jamaican star has been incarcerated since 2011 in connection to the disappearance of his associate Clive "Lizard" Williams
• Through his lawyers, Kartel questioned an earlier ruling over claims of attempts to bribe the jury

Jamaican dancehall music icon Vybz Kartel has won an appeal against his murder conviction.

Is Vybz Kartel free?

A London court on Thursday, March 14, quashed Kartel's conviction, ruling that attempts to bribe the jury meant the ruling was compromised.

The 48-year-old has been in jail since 2011 over the disappearance of Clive "Lizard" Williams, whose body has never been found.

The Summer Time hitmaker was convicted to a minimum of 32 years in prison in 2014 alongside three co-accused. He appealed the sentence and it was reduced to 32 and a half years.

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In February, Kartel launched an appeal at the Privy Council in London, the final court of appeal in Jamaica.

According to the musician’s lawyers, the trial judge mishandled allegations that one of the jurors offered around KSh 430,000 to fellow jurors to rule in Kartel’s favour. Kartel argued that the jury member should have been thrown off the original trial.

However, the ruling does not mean that Kartel is free. Reuters reports that the Privy Council sent the case back to the Court of Appeal in Jamaica to decide whether Kartel and his co-defendants should stand trial again.

Isat Buchanan, one of the lawyers representing Kartel, hinted at the court victory by posting an Instagram video saying:

"I have a big surprise."

What did Vybz Kartel's lawyer say?

In his appeal, Kartel told the Privy Council in London that he was wrongly convicted, arguing that there were irregularities in the trial, including jury tampering.

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The Privy Council granted Kartel an expedited hearing following concerns about his health.

Buchanan said a thyroid condition known as Graves’ disease, coupled a heart condition, had made the singer's continued incarceration without surgery life-threatening.

"His neck was swollen, and you couldn't close the shirt collar, and that's how bad it is. His face is swollen. And one other thing. He always wears glasses; in this condition, that causes his eyes to protrude,” Buchanan said.

A medical report by Kartel's physician, Dr Karen Phillips, recommended surgery.

Source: TUKO.co.ke