Vybz Kartel Granted Leave To Take Appeal To UK’s Privy Council

Dancehall Kingpin Vybz Kartel has been granted leave by the Jamaican Court of Appeal to take the appeal of his murder conviction to the England-based Privy Council.

The ruling was handed down on Friday and has given the Gaza strongman, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, and his co-accused Shawn ‘Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John a final avenue to appeal their 2014 conviction for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

This news comes in light of their failed attempt to reverse the conviction which was upheld in April of this year by the Court of Appeal.

They now have 90 days in which to prepare and dispatch their appeal files to the Privy Council for their consideration.

Reports are that they have been granted the appeal to challenge how evidence was collected and whether it breached the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

They were granted the leave to appeal based on the trial judge, Justice Lennox Campbell’s refusal to discharge the jury following impropriety on their part. A number of other issues will be allowed to be considered by Jamaica’s final appellate court when Worl’ Boss makes his final push to earn his freedom.

Kartel is now serving 32 years for the 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams at his Havendale home. If his unable to reverse the decision at the Privy Council, he will be eligible for parole in 2046.

Kartel has previously expressed his confidence in getting a fair ruling from the Privy Council indicating that he knows doesn’t believe he can get such from the Jamaican Justice system. He was quoted in Billboard magazine as saying “I would like to say re the Privy Council that I am going to be out soon. Law and statute are what the council deals in, not corruption. The appeal hearing in Jamaica, just like the trial, was a joke, a kangaroo court, a circus”.

Kartel has been busy since his lock down releasing a number of hits and being named artiste of the year on a number of occasions.

The singer has released two albums this year, To Tanesha and Of Dons & Divas .

Incarcerated since Sept. 29, 2011, following his arrest at a Kingston hotel for possession of marijuana, Kartel was charged within days with the July 2011 killing of promoter Barrington “Bossie” Burton. Acquitted in that case, Kartel was implicated in the August 2011 murder of Lizard, whose body has never been found. Following a 65-day trial, he was handed a life sentence.