Damning text found on dancehall star Vybz Kartel’s phone that led to murder conviction – as he’s released 10 years later

DANCEHALL star Vybz Kartel has been dramatically freed from a Jamaican prison months after his murder conviction was overturned.

Cops had alleged they saw a text on Kartel ’s phone saying the body of associate Clive “Lizard” Williams was turned to “mincemeat.”

Alamy

Getty

Getty

Urbanislandz

Urbanislandz

Kartel – famous for hits such as Romping Shop, Dancehall Hero, and Summer Time – was convicted and jailed a decade ago.

The star and three other men – Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St. John – were convicted in March 2014 of the murder of their associate, Williams.

A key piece of evidence in the 65-day trial — one of the longest in Jamaican history — was a text message.

Police alleged they had retrieved a text from Kartel’s phone saying Williams had been chopped up in a “mincemeat” so fine his remains would never be located.

Prosecution witnesses and relatives of the victim needed state protection due to numerous threats at that time, reported Associated Press .

Kartel, 48, had been serving a life sentence – 35 years – for the 2011 murder. It was later reduced on appeal to 32-and-a-half years.

But, the UK-based Privy Council, Jamaica’s top court, tossed out their convictions in March because of juror misconduct.

I thank my legal team, my family, and my fans for their unwavering support.

Vybz Kartel Freed dancehall star

It also asked Jamaica’s Court of Appeal to determine whether a new trial should be held.

On Wednesday, in a shock decision, a three-judge panel announced that Kartel — who was born Adidja Palmer — and his three co-appellants’ retrial was not merited.

All four were set free as a result of the momentous decision.

“We conclude that the interests of justice do not require a new trial,” Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop said on a livestream of the court hearing.

Thrilled fans pushed over barriers to mob his attorney, Isat Buchanan, outside the court in Kingston yesterday.

They hailed him as “The Man” after the court ordered Kartel’s release from prison, reported the Jamaica Gleaner .

Also known as “World Boss,” Kartel is hugely popular in the Caribbean island nation.

He has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music , including Jay-Z , Rihanna , Missy Elliott , and Eminem .

“Justice has finally been served. I have always maintained my innocence, and today, the truth has set me free,” said Kartel in a statement.

“I thank my legal team, my family, and my fans for their unwavering support.”

TIME TO HEAL

On social media, one fan told him that “God has smiled upon you, and given you a second chance.”

Another fan said that the “Jamaican justice system has failed so many Jamaicans.”

Many urged him to “get his health right, heal and recover.”

Kartel had been arrested during an investigation into the disappearance of Williams, whose body has never been found.

During the lengthy trial in 2014, prosecutors told the hearing that Williams had been killed over two missing guns.

They also alleged that Kartel had lured the victim to his home before he was beaten to death.

MINCEMEAT

Justice Lennox Campbell asked the jury to consider a text message cops alleged they had seen on the star’s phone claimed to have said that Williams’ body had been turned to “mincemeat.”

Text messages were used as circumstantial evidence by the prosecution.

Justice Campbell told the jury that the defense was arguing that the alleged text messages were manipulated and tampered with during the trial in March 2014.

The prosecution had partly relied on messages alleged to have been sent by Williams before his alleged murder, and others claimed to have been sent by one of Kartel’s co-defendants.

BRIBE CLAIM

However, Kartel and his co-defendants’ lawyer told judges on the Privy Council that the alleged texts were acquired in breach of Jamaican law and thus should not have been presented to the jury.

His lawyers also told judges in March that his conviction was unsafe because of alleged attempts to bribe jurors at his original trial.

Getty

A juror was accused of offering bribes – of J$500,000 (US$3,200) – to other jurors in 2014, reported Rolling Stone .

The co-defendants’ lawyers told the Privy Council the judge had made mistakes in handling these allegations.

However, lawyers representing the prosecutors denied this claim, arguing that the trial judge had behaved properly.

Who is dancehall star Vybz Kartel?

Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel has been released from prison

Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, was arrested in 2011 with three other men for the murder of their associate Clive “Lizard” Williams.

In 2014, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison, which was later reduced on appeal to 32-and-a-half.

Kartel’s conviction was overturned by UK judges in March and on August 1, 2024, the court of appeal ruled against a retrial for the artist and he was freed from prison.

The artist has always maintained his innocence regarding the accusation.

Kartel, now aged 48, is a major star in the dancehall genre and is known for his prolific output and innovative, but often violent, X-rated lyrics.

Over the years, he has collaborated with international artists including Jay-Z, Rihanna and Busta Rhymes.

Rhymes traveled to Jamaica to attend the last day of Kartel’s trial in 2014 as a show of support.

Vybz Kartel’s most famous songs include Fever, Royalty (with XXXTentacion), Clarks, Touch Down (Remix) (with Stylo G & FaNaTiX), Romping Shop, Mhm Hm, Colouring This Life, Conjugal Visit (with Spice) and One Man (with Vanessa Bling).

Although he has been imprisoned since 2011, Kartel recorded numerous new songs from his cell using a smartphone.

Also known as “World Boss,” he co-wrote a book about himself titled The Voice of the Jamaica Ghetto.

Kartel has long been popular among young Jamaicans, especially those in blighted slums.

He also promoted his own rum line, shoes and a brand of condoms.

DIGITAL FORENSICS

Local news website The Canary reported that yesterday’s landmark ruling to suddenly free the men marked a significant turn in the high-profile case.

“The case has gripped [Jamaica] and the global music community for over a decade,” it added.

It had been reopened following new forensic evidence and technological advancements in digital forensics.

DISORDER

Kartel, who was born Adidja Palmer, is reportedly in poor health .

The court said yesterday that evidence indicated that Kartel would struggle to complete a potentially longer sentence – if a retrial is held, according to Fox 5 News .

It also cited the “psychological and financial effects that it would have on the appellants.”

In a sworn medical affidavit provided last year by Kartel’s private doctor, it stated that the star has Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland.

In 2016, Kartel released his successful album, King Of The Dancehall, despite being caged.