Embattled Dancehall superstar, Adidja Palmer, more popularly known as Vybz Kartel has been convicted of the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams following a majority verdict returned by the presiding jury in the case Thursday evening.
Kartel, along with Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre ‘Mad Suss’ St. John were all found guilty of the murder by a 10-1 majority verdict, which was confirmed following a deliberation which took just over two hours in the Home Circuit Court. Shane Williams, another of the co-accused, was found not guilty and immediately released by presiding judge, Lennox Campbell.
The verdict concluded a nearly 65-day-long trial which began last November, the longest trial in Jamaican history. Scenes outside downtown Kingston were tense, with large crowds congregating in anticipation of the verdict surrounded by a heavy police presence. A general shock and anger was seen once word filtered through that Kartel was found guilty, with said crowds protesting and demanding answers as police aimed to cordon them off and dissuade any illegal activity.
In addition to the convictions, a juror in the Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams case was arrested and will be prosecuted according to multiple reports after it was alleged he attempted to bribe the foreman of the jury panel. The foreman rejected the alleged offer and reported this alleged bribery to the judge.
Vybz Kartel and his co-accused will official be sentenced on March 27. However, his legal team, headed byTom Tavares-Finson has indicated they will file an appeal with a higher court in attempt to have the conviction overturned.
