This is How you can Get Away With Muder! How Juror Misconduct Freed Vybz Kartel After 13 Years

August 1, 2024 | Kingston, Jamaica – I will tell you how you can get away with murder, as we can learn from the case of Vybz Kartel who managed to win the case due to Juror  Misconduct After 13 Years. 

Vybz Kartel, regarded as one of the biggest artists in dancehall music's era, walked free from prison after 13 years. His case has taken a major twist in court cases, including in 2014, when he was found guilty of allegedly murdering the individual Clive "Lizard" Williams, with whom he had been charged. However, an appeal filed at the Privy Council of the UK ruled that there were critical flaws in the way the trial was conducted and hence set him free.

Vybz Kartel, Fiancé Sidem Celebrate His Release In Limo Ride From Prison 

Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, always protested his innocence. The evidence against him was circumstantial, relying on disputed video footage and telephone records. The conviction relied heavily on the evidence of one witness whose credibility was questioned. The Privy Council, in overturning the conviction, decided that there were serious problems with the case, not least the misconduct of one juror who tried to influence the outcome of the trial. This taken together amounted to a violation of Kartel's right to a fair trial, and the conviction was ruled not valid.

But with the passage of time and the decay of fragments of critical evidence, the presiding Jamaican Court of Appeal, at its discretion, opted not to go ahead with the retrial. More pointedly, it recognized the deteriorating health of Kartel. He has been battling Graves' Disease, which was further triggered by his prison life. It had been reported that Kartel had been held in harsh conditions, which took a toll on his physical and mental state.

The judge's decision to release Kartel has been met with subtle relief and trembling reflection. For some, it was a moment representing justice: righting a flawed process that had resulted in one of Jamaica's favorite sons being incarcerated under dubious circumstances. Others question the unresolved parts of the case, namely that Williams' body was never found. His release is thus not necessarily a win for Kartel personally, but something that will give the Jamaican legal system much-needed spiritual reflection when it comes to fair trials, proper handling of evidence, and witnesses.

As Kartel re-emerges into public life, the future still seems on a loose shoestring. The equally prolific artist, having influenced so much of the dancehall music, now has to find a way to fit into a normal life outside prison and look into health concerns. His fans and critics are bound to be watching this chapter closely.

This case has highlighted some of the wider issues concerning the judicial system, including reforms that are to be carried out to ensure the integrity of trials. Kartel's situation is representative of how ambiguous the concept of justice is and what effects legal cases have on people. As Jamaica and the world continue to follow this story, the focus is likely to shift towards how Kartel re-adapts society and the continuous discussions that emanate from the case concerning legal reforms.

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