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Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel and three co-defendants were convicted of murder Thursday in a high-profile trial in Kingston, Jamaica's Supreme Court.
In anticipation of a riot, Jamaican police in riot gear guarded the barricaded streets outside. Shortly before the jury started to deliberate in the afternoon, about 200 people briefly broke through barricades at one intersection shouting "Free Kartel!"
Ultimately, 10 members of an 11 person jury found Kartel and three others guilty of the October 2011 killing of Clive "Lizard" Williams. One defendant was cleared of charges. Also, a male juror was arrested on charges of attempting to bribe the jury foreman in an attempt to influence the group to free Kartel.
According to CTV News, Prosecutors alleged Williams was beaten to death at Kartel's home in August 2011 after being lured there to answer for two missing illegal guns. His body has never been found. Police testified they retrieved a text message from Kartel's phone saying Williams was chopped up in a "mincemeat" so fine that his remains would never be found.
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, has already been in jail for 3 years. Sentencing to follow.
Source: ctvnews.ca
