Jamaica’s longest running court case
Vybz Kartel, Jamaica’s renowned dancehall artist, has been incarcerated for nearly a decade alongside fellow musicians Shawn Storm, Kahira Jones, and André St John. Their trial, spanning 65 days, marked the lengthiest legal battle in Jamaica’s history.
Recently, concerns arose regarding Kartel’s health as he combats Graves’ Disease, a condition exacerbated by his prolonged imprisonment. Initially sentenced to life, Kartel became eligible for parole after 35 years, while his co-accused faced similar terms, varying from 15 to 25 years.
In a dramatic turn of events, Kartel and his associates appealed their convictions at the Privy Council in London, citing mishandling of juror misconduct allegations. The revelation of attempted bribery among jurors posed a critical challenge during the trial. Despite objections, the judge proceeded with 11 jurors, including the accused briber, a decision later deemed “fatal to the safety of the convictions” by Judge Lord Lloyd-Jones.
Now, the Court of Appeal in Jamaica is poised to determine whether Kartel and his co-defendants will face retrial. Despite his confinement, Kartel maintains an influential presence in Jamaica’s music scene, earning the moniker “King of the Dancehall.” Even from his cell, he continued to release music and co-authored a book, “The Voice of the Jamaica Ghetto.”
Though another murder case against Kartel collapsed due to insufficient evidence, the impact of his legal battles reverberates, highlighting the enduring saga of one of Jamaica’s most captivating figures.
As his popularity grew, he increasingly got in trouble with the law. Last year, another murder case against Kartel collapsed due to insufficient evidence, highlighting the enduring saga of one of Jamaica’s most captivating figures.