Up to the time - Tracking the Kartel case

The Court of Appeal is set to rule at 2 p.m. Wednesday whether entertainer Vybz Kartel and his co-accused will face retrial for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams or be set free.

On March 14, 2024, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, Jamaica's final court of appeal, overturned the convictions of Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, and co-accused Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John. It ruled that the Court of Appeal of Jamaica should decide on the matter of a retrial.

These are the key timelines in the case against Kartel:

September 30, 2011 – Vybz Kartel is arrested at a New Kingston hotel by members of the Flying Squad division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and is charged with possession of a small quantity of marijuana confiscated in a hotel room where he was staying during the filming of his reality dating show Teacha's Pet. He was later charged with the murder of 27-year-old businessman Barrington 'Bossie' Burton.

March 23, 2012 – He is granted bail for $3,000,000 after being denied on October 4, 2011, but remains in jail in connection to a second murder – that of Clive 'Lizard' Williams.

July 24, 2013 – Vybz Kartel is found not guilty of the murder of Barrington Burton but remains in custody pending second murder case.

November 18, 2013 – Trial for murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams begins in the Home Circuit Court with jury selection.

March 13, 2014 – Kartel and three co-accused are found guilty by an 11-member jury. A fifth defendant, Shane Williams, was acquitted. The 64-day trial, held in the Home Circuit Court, is said to be the longest in Jamaica's history.

April 3, 2014 – Dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel and the co-accused are sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. He is to serve a minimum of 35 years before he becomes eligible for parole.

April 3, 2020 – Exactly six years to the day, Vybz Kartel lost the appeal against his murder conviction. After a near two-year wait, the Court of Appeal handed down the judgment of the entertainer.

April 17, 2020 – The Court of Appeal allowed the appeals against sentences to the extent of taking account of time spent in custody awaiting trial. The period of imprisonment to be served by each appellant, before becoming eligible for parole, was reduced by two years and six months.

September 25, 2020 – Vybz Kartel and his co-accused granted conditional leave to go to the Privy Council in the United Kingdom to challenge their murder conviction.

February 14 and 15, 2024 – The appeal is heard by the Privy Council.

March 14, 2024 – The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council rules that the appellants' convictions should be quashed on the ground of juror misconduct and that the case should be remitted to the Court of Appeal of Jamaica to decide whether to order a retrial of the appellants for the murder of the deceased.

May 30, 2024 - The Jamaican Supreme Court denies a habeas corpus application on the men's behalf, ruling that Vybz Kartel and his co-accused are to remain behind bars pending a decision in the Court of Appeal on whether they should be retried for murder.

June 10, 2024 - Hearing on whether Vybz Kartel and the three other men should be retried for murder begins in the Court of Appeal. Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, along with Justices Paulette Williams and David Fraser, will decide the case. 

July 31, 2024 - Judgment on Kartel retrial to be delivered.

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.