Vybz Kartel In Prison: Jamaican Dancehall Star Receives Life Sentence For Murder

Jamaican rapper and dancehall star Vybz Kartel has been sentenced to life in prison for the August, 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

On March 13, Jamaican rapper, songwriter and dancehall performer Vybz Kartel was found guilty of the August, 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. Less than a month later, on April 3, Jamaica’s Supreme Court sentenced Vybz to life in prison.

Vybz, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, will become eligible for parole after he serves 35 years of his sentence, according to Billboard. Vybz’s associates, Shawn Campbell were also found guilty in the brutal killing, and they all received life sentences as well.

Vybz’s attorneys are planning to appeal the conviction, a process that will take six to 12 months. They argue that evidence in the case was fabricated and altered, including text messages on Vybz’s phone that referred to Clive’s remains as “mincemeat” and described the rapper’s plans to run, Billboard reports.

Vybz will also face charges for “attempting to pervert the course of justice as related to the Williams murder case” after he allegedly told conspirators to file false robbery charges against Clive after the murder to make it seem like he was still alive.

Clive’s murder took place at Vybz’s home in Havendale, St Andrew after a fight about missing firearms. His body was never found. An eleven-member jury decided the fate of Vybz and his associates in less than two hours in a 10-1 decision on March 13.

Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John were also found guilty in Clive’s fatal beating. A fourth associate, Shane Williams, was the only accused to be found not guilty.

The trial, which lasted for 65 days, was the “longest running criminal hearing in the history of Jamaica’s circuit court system,” according to Billboardmagazine.