Ethan Rhodes
Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Azim Palmer, was released from prison on July 31, 2024, after spending 13 years behind bars for the murder of Clive Lizard Williams. His conviction was overturned by the U.K.'s Privy Council in March 2024 due to juror misconduct, and the Jamaica Court of Appeal decided against a retrial, citing Kartel's deteriorating health and the substantial time since the crime. Now that he is out of the hospital and no longer in custody, Kartel has expressed his priority to focus on his health and wellness, addressing the severe thyroid problems, heart complications, and Graves' Disease that threatened his life while incarcerated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of release from prison | 31 July 2024 |
| Years spent in prison | 13 or 14 |
| Age at the time of release | 48 years |
| Health issues | Graves' Disease, thyroid disease, heart condition |
| Plans after release | Focusing on health, spending time with family |
| Work after release | Released an entire album within 24 hours, EP "First Week Out" |
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What You'll Learn
Vybz Kartel released from prison after 13 years
Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Azim Palmer, has been released from prison after serving 13 years of his 35-year sentence. He was convicted in 2014 for the murder of Clive "Lizard" Williams, whose body was never found. The dancehall star maintained his innocence and, in March 2024, the UK's Privy Council overturned the conviction, citing juror misconduct due to an alleged bribery attempt. The matter was then handed back to the Jamaican Court of Appeal, which decided against a retrial, leading to Kartel's release.
The artist's deteriorating health, including a diagnosis of Graves' Disease and a heart condition, was also cited as a reason for the court's decision. His lawyers described his prison conditions as "inhumane".
Upon his release, Kartel was met by adoring fans outside the prison in Kingston. The 48-year-old shared his future plans, stating that his health was his top priority. He also expressed his amazement at his newfound freedom: "I could be better, but I’m super upbeat...I’ve hit the ground running”.
Since his release, Kartel has attended the 2024 Grammys in Los Angeles and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the MOBO Awards in London. He has also given exclusive interviews, reflecting on his time in prison, his fight for freedom, and his future plans for his music and family.
Vybz Kartel is known for his successful dancehall music career, with seven different projects in the Reggae Albums chart’s top 10. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as Rihanna, Eminem, and Jay-Z. Despite his incarceration, Kartel continued to create music and launched his own label, Adidjahiem/Notnice Records.
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The artist's deteriorating health
Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Azim Palmer, was released from prison on July 31, 2024, after serving 13 years behind bars for the murder of Clive "Lizard" Williams. Despite maintaining his innocence, the Jamaican dancehall artist had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014. However, his conviction was overturned by UK judges in March 2024 due to juror misconduct related to an alleged bribery attempt.
Upon his release, Kartel's deteriorating health sparked widespread concern among fans and the media. The artist had been battling Graves' Disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland, resulting in hyperthyroidism and the acceleration of various bodily functions. In addition to this, he faced heart complications, with his physician, Dr. Karen Phillips, stating that his heart function was below normal and that he was at risk of a heart attack or even dying in his sleep. The inhumane prison conditions were also said to have impacted his health negatively.
In a 2021 jailhouse interview with FOX 5 NY's Lisa Evers, Kartel acknowledged his health issues but remained upbeat about his future plans. He shared that he was focusing on his health and overall wellness, adopting a new health regimen that included purchasing a bike and a treadmill. Kartel's lawyer, Isat Buchanan, had also highlighted the artist's health struggles during his incarceration, emphasizing the urgency of his condition.
Despite his health challenges, Kartel has continued to pursue his musical career. He released an entire album less than 24 hours after his release from prison, and his new EP, "First Week Out," quickly topped the charts. The artist has expressed his gratitude for his freedom and the support of his dedicated fans, who eagerly await his return to the stage.
While Vybz Kartel is no longer in the hospital, his health remains a concern, and he continues to prioritize his well-being as he adjusts to life outside of prison.
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No retrial for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams
Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Azim Palmer, was released from prison on 31 July 2024, after serving 13 years of his sentence. The Jamaica Court of Appeal voted unanimously against a retrial in the 2011 murder of Clive "Lizard" Williams, leading to the dancehall star's release. Kartel was initially convicted of the murder in 2014 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The conviction was based on circumstantial evidence, including video and phone records from his BlackBerry Torch, as well as testimony from a discredited witness. Kartel maintained his innocence and fought to have the conviction overturned. In March 2024, the British Privy Council quashed the conviction, citing juror misconduct due to an alleged bribery attempt. The Privy Council left the decision of a retrial to a three-person court of appeals in Jamaica.
On 31 July 2024, the Court of Appeal decided against a retrial, stating that "the interest of justice does not require a new trial to be ordered". The court considered the amount of time passed, the lack of witnesses, and the financial resources needed for a retrial. Additionally, Kartel's deteriorating health, including Graves' Disease and a heart condition, was also a factor in the decision.
The court's decision sparked celebrations among Kartel's fans, who gathered outside the courthouse in Kingston, Jamaica. Upon his release, Kartel shared his plans to focus on his health and well-being.
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Vybz Kartel's health regimen and future plans
Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Azim Palmer, was released from prison in July 2024 after serving 13 years of his life sentence for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. Kartel's health issues, including severe thyroid problems, a heart condition, and Graves' Disease, were cited as a reason for his release, with doctors recommending surgery.
Following his release, Kartel has stated that he is focusing on his health, telling Fox 5, "Healthwise, you know, I’m working on my health right now, but the feeling of just being free is just an amazing feeling. I could be better, but I’m super upbeat. I’ve hit the ground running." The artist has purchased a bike and a treadmill and is embracing his newfound freedom.
Kartel's lawyer, Isat Buchanan, has described the prison conditions as "inhumane," and these conditions, along with a lack of necessary medical treatment, likely contributed to the decline in Kartel's health. The artist's health regimen moving forward will likely involve managing his Graves' Disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism and accelerates various bodily functions.
While Kartel has not shared specific future plans regarding his career, he has indicated that music will continue to be a part of his life. In an interview with FOX 5's Lisa Evers, he discussed his release, his music, and his message to fans. He has also launched seven different projects into the Reggae Albums chart's top 10, with his most recent LP, "Born Fi Dis (Prelude)," released in 2021.
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The artist's collaboration with Rihanna, Eminem and Jay-Z
Jamaican dancehall artist Adidja Azim Palmer, better known as Vybz Kartel, has had a colourful career, to say the least. In 2014, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his associate Clive "Lizard" Williams. Despite his imprisonment, Kartel continued to release new music, with over 50 new songs released in 2016 alone. In July 2024, Kartel was released from prison after the Court of Appeal declined to retry the Williams case.
Now, onto the artist's collaborations with Rihanna, Eminem, and Jay-Z.
Vybz Kartel has worked with a number of hip-hop and R&B artists, including Rihanna, Missy Elliot, and Travis Scott. Although there is no mention of a collaboration with Jay-Z, Kartel did feature on a remix of Eminem's "White Trash Party" from the album "Recovery". The remix, which was produced by Black Chiney's Supa Dups, was posted on New York DJ and radio personality Cipha Sounds' blog. While it is unclear whether this was an Eminem-authorised release, the interplay between Kartel and Eminem on the second verse created an undeniable vibe.
Kartel's collaboration with Rihanna is part of a long list of achievements for the artist, who has been credited with helping to erode long-held taboos in Jamaica through his music. Despite some controversy surrounding the homophobic content of his lyrics, which led to his nomination for the UK MOBO Awards being withdrawn in 2004, Kartel endorsed the Reggae Compassionate Act in 2010 to oppose homophobia in music.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Vybz Kartel was released from prison on July 31, 2024.
Vybz Kartel was convicted of the murder of Clive "Lizard" Williams in 2014 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The U.K.'s Privy Council overturned the conviction against him and his co-defendants in March 2024 due to juror misconduct related to an alleged bribery attempt. On August 1, 2024, the Jamaica Court of Appeal decided against a retrial, citing factors such as the substantial time elapsed since the crime, Kartel's deteriorating health, and financial constraints.
Vybz Kartel has stated that he is focusing on his health and overall wellness. He has also released new music, including an EP titled "First Week Out," and there is excitement among fans about seeing him perform on stage again.
Vybz Kartel has been diagnosed with Graves' Disease, a thyroid disorder, as well as heart complications. His health issues were cited as a factor in the decision against a retrial, as his condition was deemed severe enough to impact his ability to complete a longer sentence.
