Scores of people gathered outside the Supreme Court on Thursday chanting “Free World Boss!” as they demanded the release of Vybz Kartel during the ruling on the habeas corpus application submitted by lawyers representing the dancehall artiste and two of his three co-accused.

Despite the people’s demands Kartel, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, and his co-accused Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell and Andre St John will remain behind bars as their application was rejected by Supreme Court Justice Andrea Thomas.

READ: Vybz Kartel, co-accused denied bail

One supporter of the artiste stated that Kartel deserves to be set free as he paved the way for other entertainers to enter and achieve success in the music industry.

“Free World Boss! A long time the boss deh in incarceration, him a real yute, a him make artiste can deh weh dem deh,” the man said.

Another man stated that it would have been better he was jailed instead of the entertainer since he does not have children, while Kartel does.

“Vybz Kartel pay for the glasses right here, and me want the boss get release. Me nuh remember weh the judge name but the judge need fi let go the boss right now. Kartel a good yute, a me fi deh in deh, because me nuh get pickney yet and Kartel have how much pickney. A me fi deh in deh because me a waste man a Jamaica,” he told Observer Online.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Alfred McDonald, Supreme Court commander, said he expected that a crowd would have gathered at the Supreme Court ahead of the delivery of the ruling and so extra security was provided by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

“It’s my responsibility to establish a safe environment for officers of the court and all those who seek to do business at the court. And of course fans of the entertainer thought that he would be brought today and we anticipate that persons may want to converge on this location so hence we have to take the precautionary measures to ensure that the environment is extra safe. So hence the security presence you are seeing,” DSP McDonald explained.

During the ruling Supreme Court Justice Thomas said that in the absence of a verdict of acquittal by the Privy Council the charge of murder remains in effect for the accused.

In declaring that their present custodial status is not in breach of the constitution, Justice Thomas told a packed courtroom that, “In view of the fact that their appeal is not yet determined they should remain in custody until their appeal is concluded.

“That is until a verdict of acquittal is entered or there is a decision for a retrial,” Thomas said.

The ruling comes after an intense court battle to determine whether Kartel and the two men were being illegally detained by the State.