As he currently serves a life sentence on a murder conviction, embattled Dancehall superstar, Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer is expected back in court on October 27 after his conspiracy trial, which was expected to get underway this week Monday at the Corporate Area Resident Magistrates Court in Kingston was postponed twice.
The case was initially set to begin on Monday, but was postponed following a flurry of issues, according to reports, including unsettled legal representation for co-accused, Andre ‘Pim Pim’ Henry and the absence of a defence attorney and witnesses. When the case was again mentioned on Thursday, more witness issues were uncovered while Henry’s lawyer, Peter Champagnie withdrew from representing the accused due to unfulfilled financial obligations, thus forcing the judge to set the new date.
The judge was reportedly annoyed by this development, telling the prosecution, “You ensure that you do what you have to do cause no matter what, the only thing that can prevent the case from starting is if the Lord says so.”
Palmer is jointly charged with Henry and fellow entertainer/protégé, Vanessa ‘Gaza Slim’ Saddler for perverting the course of justice after Saddler allegedly filed a false police report suggesting she was robbed and gun-butted by Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams, the man who Palmer was convicted of killing this past March.
The report was filed five days after Kartel was charged with Williams’ murder in October 2011. He, Saddler and Henry were charged with perverting the course of justice later that year as they are alleged to have attempted to interfere with the police’s investigation into Williams’ murder.
Vybz Kartel is not eligible for parole for another 35 years. He is currently appealing his conviction.
