Dancehall star Vybz Kartel is now back on the streets of Jamaica after being released from the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in downtown Kingston on July 31.
The 48-year-old artist, who has been dealing with health issues, was greeted by enthusiastic fans upon his release.
Kartel’s freedom follows a Court of Appeal decision earlier in the day, which dismissed a 13-year-old murder charge against him.
Alongside Kartel, Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones were also exonerated.
However, Jones will remain in custody to serve an 18-year sentence for a separate wounding with intent conviction related to a 2009 incident in Waterford, Portmore, St Catherine.
Kartel and the others were originally convicted in 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive Williams.
Although their convictions were upheld by the Jamaican Court of Appeal in 2020, the Privy Council, Jamaica’s highest court, overturned them in March 2024 due to juror misconduct.
Instead of ordering a retrial, the Privy Council sent the case back to the appeal court, which ultimately decided against a retrial, leading to their release.