In a bid for freedom, lawyers representing renowned dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel, along with two of his co-accused, Shawn Storm and Andre St John, have filed a habeas corpus application in the Supreme Court. The application seeks the release of the men from custody. The fourth co-accused, Kahira Jones, currently faces a separate legal matter before the court, which is distinct from this application.
Attorney Isat Buchanan, representing the accused, revealed that the application was initiated due to undisclosed issues that the defence team has encountered. “The defence was handicapped by events of nature,” Buchanan expressed, hinting at complexities surrounding the case.
The legal proceedings were adjourned until May 29th and 30th to allow for further deliberation and examination of the matter.
This application comes in the wake of a significant development earlier this year when the Privy Council overturned the murder convictions of Kartel, Campbell, and St John. The decision, citing juror misconduct, led to the case being remitted to the Court of Appeal for consideration on whether a retrial is warranted.
The Court of Appeal is scheduled to address this matter on June 10th.
The initial conviction in 2014 stemmed from the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams in 2011. Allegedly, Williams was killed after purportedly failing to return two unlicensed firearms entrusted to him by Vybz Kartel for safekeeping. Since the incident, Williams’ whereabouts remain unknown.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Kartel and his co-accused have consistently denied any involvement in Williams’ murder, maintaining their innocence.
The habeas corpus application marks another chapter in the ongoing legal saga surrounding Vybz Kartel and his co-defendants. As the legal process unfolds, attention remains focused on the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision regarding their release.
