Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, and his co-accused, were all denied bail and will remain behind bars while awaiting for the court of appeal new ruling.
Yesterday, Thursday May 30, downtown Kingston got pretty animated! A lot of anticipation built up to see Vybz Kartel finally walk out on bail and crowds of fans filled up the area around the court building. Police tighten up security in the whole area, but when was the time from the bail hearing to finally start it was suddenly moved to another courtroom due to the massive crowds outside the court building.
After almost 14 years behinds bars, severe health issues developed during the long incarceration and overall the previous conviction already quashed by the UK Supreme Court, everybody believed Kartel could finally obtain bail, since his new 10 days hearing will start on the first week of June , to determine if he will be finally cleared and walk free or a new trial will start.
Given the way Judge Andrea Thomas handed down the judgement which will keep Vybz Kartel and co-accused in prison until a decision is made by the Court of Appeal after the upcoming new June’s hearing, it’s hard to predict an outcome yet. . This bail hearing came following a “habeas corpus” application filled by lawyers Isat Buchanan and Iqbal Cheverria on the grounds that the men were held without legal basis after the Privy Council quashed their murder conviction in March.
According to Kartel’s lawyers, he and the others were being held in contravention of section 14 (1) (a)- (i) of the Jamaican constitution, particularly since they have reverted to pre-trial status as the murder conviction was quashed.
