Published 27 March 2017
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Monday March 27, 2017 – After serving three years of their life sentences, Vybz Kartel and his co-convicts are set to make an all-out bid for their freedom in another six months.
An Appeal Court judge recently gave the green light for the convicted murderers to launch their appeal.
Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, Shawn “Storm” Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones, were all convicted on March 13, 2014 of Clive “Lizard” Williams on August 16, 2011.
Thomas Tavares-Finson, attorney for Kartel, described the development as an “important step in the appeal process”.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, he said: “It’s the first but critical step in the appeal process. A single judge, Justice Frank Williams, has read all the papers from the trial and determined that there are grounds on which an appeal could be allowed, so he has given the green light to proceed. We will move on to a full appeal in September. It is a limited victory, but an important moral victory for my client, as it reinforces the notion in his mind that justice will be served and he will be acquitted.”
During the lengthy murder trial, the Crown argued that the popular dancehall artist and the others all participated in the beating death of Williams over two missing firearms belonging to the deejay.
After the 11-member jury found them guilty, Justice Lennox Campbell ordered that Kartel serve 35 years in prison, with hard labour, before he becomes eligible for parole. Campbell and Jones were to serve 25 years before becoming eligible for parole, while St John was to become eligible after serving 30 years of his sentence.
The four have maintained their innocence
More from BY BRIAN BONITTO Associate Editor – Auto & Entertainment [email protected]
Vybz Kartel and his three co-accused were granted leave to appeal their conviction and sentence in the Court of Appeal yesterday.
Kartel, given name Adidja Palmer; Kahira Jones; Andre St John; and entertainer Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell hope to have their sentences for murder overturned.
Thomas Tavares-Finson, attorney for Vybz Kartel, described the development as an “important step in the appeal process”.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, he added, “It’s the first but critical step in the appeal process. A single judge, Justice Frank Williams, has read all the papers from the trial and determined that there are grounds on which an appeal could be allowed, so he has given the green light to proceed. We will move on to a full appeal in September. It is a limited victory, but an important moral victory for my client, as it reinforces the notion in his mind that justice will be served and he will be acquitted.”
