Vybz Kartel's Legal Team Pursues Release Amidst Pending Retrial

Attorneys representing Adidja Palmer, famously known as Vybz Kartel, have taken decisive legal action by filing an application for the immediate release of their client and two co-accused individuals. This move comes as they await a critical hearing regarding the potential retrial for a murder case dating back to 2011.

The Court of Appeal is scheduled to convene on June 10, 2024, to deliberate on whether Vybz Kartel and his co-accused, Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Andre St. John, and Kahira Jones, should be subjected to a retrial concerning the tragic death of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

This development follows a significant ruling handed down by the Privy Council in March, which determined that the original trial did not uphold the standards of fairness.

 Consequently, the murder convictions against the defendants were overturned, prompting a remittance of the case to the Court of Appeal for further consideration.

The impending hearing in June will serve as a pivotal moment, wherein legal arguments for and against a retrial will be meticulously evaluated based on both statutory law and factual evidence. It marks a crucial juncture in the prolonged legal saga that has seen Kartel and his associates incarcerated since 2011.

Recent reports indicate that legal representatives for three of the four men have initiated a Habeas Corpus application, seeking the release of their clients from custody. 

This legal recourse urges the court to scrutinize the grounds of continued detention and, if deemed unlawful or unjustifiable, to order the unconditional release of the detainees.

However, it's worth noting that the application specifically pertains to Vybz Kartel, Shawn Campbell, and Andre St. John. Kahira Jones, on the other hand, will remain in custody to fulfill his existing 18-year sentence for a separate offense related to wounding with intent in a 2009 case.

Jones, who was on bail at the time of his arrest in connection with Williams' murder, had previously faced charges of wounding with intent, illegal firearm possession, and illegal possession of ammunition. Despite being implicated as the perpetrator in the 2009 incident, the police have yet to establish a connection between Jones and the subsequent death of the victim.

The attorneys representing Vybz Kartel, Shawn Campbell, and Kahira Jones have yet to provide comment on the habeas corpus application.