Vybz Kartel, a dancehall performer, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for a m_rder conviction.
The Court of Appeal in Jamaica declined to retry the m_rder of Vybz Kartel, noting the latter’s declining health and the financial and psychological toll it has taken on him.
His terrible !llness, which has gotten worse over time, including a bloated face and neck, was mentioned by his defense. Around the world, Kartel’s followers and admirers have celebrated his liberation.
Kartel and his co-accused, Shawn “Storm Storm” Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones, were declared free by the appeals court in a unanimous decision.
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Kartel’s deteriorating health and the unavailability of trial exhibits and witnesses both had an impact on the result.
The prosecution failed to adequately account for the availability of its witnesses, and the court determined that a number of trial exhibits were either missing or misplaced.
Moreover, the large resources expended in the first trial were considered to be a major drain on the court system.
