14 DAY TRIAL // It was the longest-running murder trial in Jamaican history, lasting 65 days, but finally the jury has reached a verdict in the case which dancehall artist Kartel and a number of other people were accused of murdering Clive “Lizard” Williams back in August 2011.
Billboard reports that Kartel was found guilty of murder for the incident that had taken place at his home in Havendale, St. Andrew. The 11-member jury took two hours to reach the verdict and also accused of murder Kartel's associates, Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Adren St. John. One last associate, Shane Williams, was given the not guilty verdict
Reports from the scene in Kingston, Jamaica, where the trial took place, spoke of a strong police presence at the scene in front of the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston. The building was surrounded by people who showed their support for Kartel as well as detractors, all of whom were present to hear the verdict first hand.
The defense lawyers all maintained throughout the proceedings that the entire case was a conspiracy by police to frame their customers for the murder of Williams, whose body was never found since that day. In their opinion, this was a necessity, since the local law enforcement officers failed to provide adequate evidence linking their clients to the murder.
A sentence in the case of Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, will be given on March 27, with his lawyers already telling the media that they intend to file for appeal.