Supporters disappointed after court rules Kartel, co-accused should remain behind bars

Some supporters of jailed dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel were left disappointed this afternoon after a court ruled that he and his co-accused should remain behind bars pending a decision in the Court of Appeal on whether they should be retried for murder.

The court's decision today followed a habeas corpus application before Justice Andrea Thomas seeking the release of Kartel, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell and Andre St John.

The submissions did not relate to the fourth co-accused, Kahira Jones, who reportedly has another matter before the court.

Ahead of the ruling, our news team visited Kartel's Waterford community in Portmore where his small group of supporters which had gathered around a radio was cautiously optimistic about a favourable outcome.

However, their hopes were dashed when the court ruled that Kartel and the other men should remain behind bars.

His supporters expressed disappointment with the decision.

"We have nothing to say, we are upset," said a supporter as the small gathering started to disperse.

Another supporter was overheard criticising the judge's decision, saying, "Them just trying to save face because the Privy Council show them up."

In March, the Privy Council quashed the men's murder convictions citing juror misconduct and sent the case back to the Court of Appeal for a ruling on whether they should be retried.

The matter is set for June 10.

The men were convicted in 2014 for Clive 'Lizard' Williams' murder in 2011.

Williams was allegedly killed after he failed to return two unlicensed guns given to him by Kartel for safekeeping.

Williams has not been seen or heard from since then.

Kartel and his co-accused denied any involvement in the killing of Williams.

Palmer, along with his two co-accused, were convicted for the 2011 murder of Clive "Lizard" Williams and was sentenced to life imprisonment, a verdict that was upheld by the Jamaican Court of Appeal. However, the Privy Council in England quashed these sentences, ordering the case back to the Jamaican Court of Appeal to determine if there should be a retrial.

The recent court decision marks another chapter in the lengthy legal battle surrounding Palmer and his co-accused, leaving supporters once again in a state of frustration and disappointment.

- Ruddy Mathison 

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