KINGSTON, Jamaica — The retrial hearing for entertainer Vybz Kartel and his co-accused has been extended for an additional day.

The matter was expected to conclude Friday, however, the proceeding will now roll over into a sixth day, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, when the Court of Appeal will hear the Crown’s concluding arguments.

In concluding the fifth day of the hearing on Friday, Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop declared that the hardest part in the matter is yet to come, presumably in reference to the many submissions to review before she, along with justices Paulette Williams and David Fraser, makes a highly anticipated decision regarding whether Kartel and his crew will be freed or their matter returned to the Supreme Court for retrial.

Addressing the court, the Crown said it appreciated that the court may find that there was a breach of the accused’s constitutional rights but said the next step should be the examination of the appropriate remedy.

READ: Kartel’s constitutional right likely to be breached should there be a retrial — prosecutor

Crown counsel Loriann Tugwell argued that a total acquittal should be a last resort and pointed to several safeguards to prevent further constitutional breaches.

These safeguards include an order for an expedition of the matter, the granting of bail for the accused and legal aid where the accused have indicated they will soon not be able to afford their lawyers due to the financial strain 13 years of court processes have had on their pockets.

Posing the question about the medical conditions of the accused, McDonald-Bishop said “He (Kartel) has a right to be treated humanely.”

“Mr Palmer (Kartel), is facing certain medical conditions, but he is not without hope. Surgery is recommended,” Tugwell responded.

Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John were charged with the September 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

The Court of Appeal upheld their convictions in 2020. However, on March 14, 2024, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, Jamaica’s final court of appeal, overturned the convictions on the grounds of juror misconduct.

It ordered that the Court of Appeal should decide whether there should be a retrial.
McDonald-Bishop, along with Justices Paulette Williams and David Fraser will decide the case.

— Kelsey Thomas