Vybz Kartel, the Jamaican Dancehall legend, is finally free.
Just over a decade ago in March of 2014, the musician was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. In March of this year, the convictions were overturned due to juror misconduct.
It was decided earlier this afternoon that Kartel, along with the co-accused Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John, would not face retrial. “Having regard to all considerations the court has taken into account, we conclude that the interest of justice do not require a new trial to be ordered for the appellants” said Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop. “We therefore make the following order: judgments and verdicts of acquittal are entered in relation to the appellants.”
Poetically, this comes just a day before Jamaican Emancipation Day, a week-long celebration which culminates with Jamaican Independence Day.
It’ll be a sight to see when he performs for the first time, or starts collaborating with big names who have been campaigning for his freedom all of these years.