On Wednesday 31 July, the Jamaican Court of Appeal made a monumental decision to free renowned dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Azim Palmer, from prison. This landmark ruling marks a significant turn in the high-profile case that has gripped the nation and the global music community for over a decade.
Vybz Kartel, a towering figure in dancehall music, was initially sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014 for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, a case fraught with controversy and public debate. The prosecution’s case hinged on circumstantial evidence, including text messages and voice notes allegedly implicating Kartel in the crime. Despite fervent claims of innocence from Kartel and his legal team, the court convicted him, sentencing him to serve a minimum of 35 years before eligibility for parole.
Adidja Azim Palmer (born 7 January 1976), better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay. Among his various nicknames, he is referred to as Worl’ Boss or Teacha. As summarized by Rolling Stone, he “attained folk-hero status in Jamaica with provocative lyrics, and a mischievous public persona”, and “few have captivated [the dancehall] audience – or offended the sensibilities of its detractors – as consistently and thoroughly as Kartel.”
SOURCE: THE CANARY, the canary.co / Wikipedia
