CORRECTION: The Director of Public Prosecution of Jamaica clarified that the murder appeal is still to be litigated by the UK Privy Council. The issue which was rejected by the UK Privy Council is the inclusion of fresh evidence. The original report from the Jamaica Observer noted that the artiste lost the battle for a hearing altogether which was incorrect. 

DANCEHALL artiste Vybz Kartel has lost his legal battle to have fresh evidence considered in his murder appeal before the United Kingdom Privy Council, Jamaica’s final court.

In 2020, Kartel and his co-accused were granted conditional leave to go to the Privy Council to challenge their murder conviction.

The men filed an application seeking to go to Jamaica’s final court after their appeal was rejected in April 2020.

The dancehall artiste, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, and co-accused Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John were convicted in 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

They were handed mandatory life sentences.

Kartel was ordered to serve 35 years before being eligible for parole, while Shawn Storm, Jones and St John were ordered to serve 25 years.

The Court of Appeal in April shaved off over two and a half years off the times. (Jamaica Observer – with corrections)