Exclusive: Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel Mounts Final Appeal Over Murder Conviction
Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel on Wednesday asked a London court to overturn his murder conviction, citing attempts to bribe his trial jury and the use of incriminating messages as reasons his conviction is unsafe.
The musician, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, is one of Jamaica’s most popular artists and has collaborated with performers such as Jay-Z and Rihanna.
Vybz Kartel, 48, has been in jail in Jamaica since 2011 when he was arrested over the disappearance of his associate Clive “Lizard” Williams, whose body has never been found.
After a 64-day trial in Kingston, one of the longest in Jamaican history, Kartel and three others were convicted in 2014. Kartel was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 35 years, later reduced on appeal to 32-and-a-half.
Kartel and hi...