Vybz Kartel Scores Small Win In Appeals Court

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Vybz Kartel gets a few years knocked off before becoming eligible for parole.

Many have called for Vybz Kartel's freedom over the years but that has not been enough for the dancehall legend's release from prison. He was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the murder of Clive "Lizard" Williams. Though he's made numerous attempts to appeal the sentence, he was recently denied his bid at the beginning of April. However, he did receive a bit of good news a few weeks later.

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The Jamaican Observer reports that Vybz Kartel scored a win in court this week when it was determined that he would be eligible for parole earlier than expected. Though it won't be any time soon, it was ruled that he would be eligible for parole in 32 years and six months instead of 35 years. 

"The trial judge fell in error by not taking into account the time spent in reprimand, which is a breach of principle. So, I am pleased that the court has decided to reduce the sentences by two-and-a-half years," Bert Samuels, attorney for Vybz Kartel's co-defendant Shawn Storm said.

Despite the good news, it still means that the dancehall legend, who turned 44-years-old behind bars, will be released in 2046 when he is 70-years-old. 

Even though Vybz is behind bars, he's blessed us with a ton of music. Earlier this year, he released his latest album, To Tanisha


About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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