The Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel suffered a judicial setback after the Supreme Court will dismiss the habeas corpus request presented by his lawyers a couple of weeks ago to leave the prison where he has remained for more than 10 years.
The judge Andrea Thomas ruled that, in the absence of a verdict of acquittal by the Privy Council, that annulled the trial that sentenced the singer and three other people to prison for the death of Clive “Lizard” Williams in 2011, the murder charge remains valid for Kartel, and his co-defendants Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell y Andre St. John, published the Jamaican Observer.
By declaring that his current custody status does not violate the Constitution, Justice Thomas told a packed Supreme Court courtroom in downtown Kingston that, “in view of the fact that his appeal has not yet been resolved, must remain in custody until their appeal is concluded”.
“That is until a verdict of acquittal is returned or a new trial is decided.”, the judge emphasized.
It is worth remembering that the 14 Last March the Privy Council ruled that Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, and his co-defendants had their convictions overturned for the murder of Clive 'Lizard’ Williams and I 2011.
On that occasion, the agency also ordered that the case returned to the Court of Appeal of Jamaica to decide whether a new trial is necessary for Kartel and his Shaw co-defendants “Shawn Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John.
Appeals Court to decide release or new trial
Anyway, The Jamaican Court of Appeal has the final say in this case, according to the decision of the Privy Council, that has to define whether a new trial is held or if the accused will be released.
For it, The Court scheduled a hearing 5 days from 10 of June where legal arguments will be presented for both the defense of the accused, who seeks his liberation, as from the Prosecutor's Office, who intends to hold a new trial, before issuing a decision on this case.
The popular singer and the others 3 accused have spent more than 12 years in prison for this case.
