In a stark contrast to the quiet, tense atmosphere inside the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston, a fervent crowd gathered outside, anxiously awaiting the verdict of dancehall star Vybz Kartel's latest appeal. The principle of habeas corpus , which protects individuals from unlawful imprisonment, was at the centre of this high-profile case. Fans were anticipating the release of the entertainer, given name Adidja Palmer, after his attorneys had sought his release, and the release of co-accused Shawn Campbell and Andre St John, after their 2014 murder convictions were quashed by the UK Privy Council in March.
Vybz Kartel has been behind bars for 12 years and eight months. But High Court Judge Andrea Thomas' decision on Thursday left many disheartened as she ruled that the deejay and his two co-accused will remain incarcerated, pending a decision in the Court of Appeal on whether they should be retried for murder. Another co-accused, Kahira Jones, reportedly has another matter before the court.
Some supporters did not take the news well. Among them was 93-year-old Iris Roberts, who admitted that while she didn't fully understand the whole process, she knew that it was "judgment day" for Vybz Kartel. "They should let him out.
He got a punishment and him do enough, they should let him out," Roberts expressed passionately. "They don't have no evidence, so dem nuh have no case, and if the biggest court free him, why dem hold on pon him same way?" Roberts shared her deep affection fo.
