Celebrations erupted in Justice Square in downtown Kingston as fans of dancehall artiste Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer received the incredible news of his release after 13 years of incarceration.
The crowd, initially small, swelled rapidly when the country’s second-highest Court ruled that Palmer and his three co-appellants, Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones, would not be retried for murder.
The atmosphere became even more joyous as supporters played the artiste’s popular songs, and their excitement soared upon spotting attorney-at-law Isat Buchanan leaving the courtroom. The crowd showered him with appreciation, labelling him “The Man” for his efforts to free the “Worl Boss”.
The moment was so profound that one supporter even suggested Palmer consider seeking political office in the future. Palmer and his co-appellants were charged in September 2011 and convicted in March 2014 of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams’ murder.
After facing a life sentence, an unsuccessful challenge in the Jamaican Court of Appeal, and later appeal to the Privy Council, Jamaica’s highest Court, their convictions were finally overturned in March 2024 due to juror misconduct.
The Court of Appeal’s decision against a retrial yesterday, July 31, 2024, marked the long-awaited freedom for the men, setting off jubilant celebrations.
Judge believes Kartel’s retrial would not serve the interests of justice.
Justice Marva McDonald Bishop, as the new president of the Court of Appeal, has freed Vybz Kartel and three others, ruling that it’s not in the interest of justice to have a retrial. But one of the men, Kahira Jones, will not be freed due to an earlier offense.
The judges considered 12 factors in making this decision, including the seriousness of the offense, the strength of the prosecution’s case, and the impact of a retrial on the appellants.
Justice McDonald Bishop highlighted that the case involved illegal activities and interference with a crime scene, but ultimately decided against a retrial, considering factors like the unavailability of witnesses, the financial impact on the appellants, and the long time they have already spent in prison.
The men were originally convicted of murder in 2014, but their convictions were quashed in 2021 due to juror misconduct. After a six-day hearing, the Court ruled to acquit the men, next strong arguments from both the prosecution and defense teams.
Fatal Police Shooting of Murder Suspect During Alleged Gunfight in Linstead.
A fatal incident occurred in Linstead, St. Catherine, involving the police and a suspect who was reportedly on bail awaiting a murder trial. On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the police fatally shot the individual after he allegedly confronted them with an illegal gun.
The deceased was identified as D’Angelo Creighton, also known as ‘Hot Head,’ a 33-year-old from the Wakefield district in Linstead, St. Catherine.
According to the Linstead police, the incident took place around 12:50 p.m. when a police team was patrolling the Wakefield community. Acting on intelligence, the officers responded to a residence where Creighton was located.
Upon their arrival, the police claimed to have observed Creighton holding a handgun and pointing it at them. Allegedly, the officers took evasive action and fired shots at Creighton.
After the shooting ceased, the police found Creighton with gunshot wounds, holding a Taurus revolver containing live rounds and spent casings. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Independent Commission of Investigations has initiated an inquiry into the matter.