Vybz Kartel says retrial would hurt his dependents

Incarcerated entertainer Adidja 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer has complained that a new trial will hamper his ability to provide for his 17 dependents.

The entertainer, who along with his three co-accused are awaiting a decision on whether they should be retried or acquitted of the 2011 murder of Clive Williams, submitted in an affidavit before the Court of Appeal that he is the sole breadwinner. The matter was highlighted by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson, who yesterday asked the court to strike that portion from his affidavit as being irrelevant.

Justice Marva McDonald- Bishop, who, along with Justices David Fraser and Paulette Williams, is hearing arguments to determine whether there should be a retrial, however, ruled that the portion should remain.

"He is talking about the ordeal; we won't strike out his facts that he has 17 dependants. We will see how it comes out in the wash as they had put it, they will bring it together," McDonald-Bishop said, noting that the court will decide what weight to give to the argument that a new trial will affect his ability to earn and support his family.

Similarly, Vybz Kartel' co-accused Kahira Jones also submitted that a retrial would present a financial challenge for him.

"I am advised by my current lawyer and do verily believe that the Jamaica justice system does not afford any opportunity for me to get cost thrown away from the first trial," Jones said in his affidavit.

Thompson also took issue with his argument, but the Justice McDonald Bishop said, "If him lawyer tell him that he won't get back any money for the first trial I don't think anything is so wrong with that, he is not compensated and now he is saying he want the money to prepare for his new trial."

"Leave it alone, it is an effect on him to face a new trial, they can speak to any hardship they face" the judge further remarked.

Vybz Kartel, Jones, Andre St John and Shawn Campbell were convicted in March 2014 for Williams' murder and sentenced to life in prison a month later. The Court of Appeal upheld their convictions in 2020. However, on March 14, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, Jamaica's final court of appeal, overturned the convictions on the grounds of juror misconduct.

However, the Privy Council did not free the men and instead ordered that the Court of Appeal should decide whether there should be a retrial.