VYBZ KARTEL charged with murder

Jamaica’s Major Investigation Taskforce (MIT) has charged dancehall artist VYBZ KARTEL - real name Adijah Palmer - with murder, conspiracy to murder and illegal possession of a firearm.

Police confirmed that the charges against the Jamaican deejay were made after the MIT interviewed him yesterday afternoon (3 October).

The police statement reads:

“The allegation is that on Monday, July 11, 2011, Palmer, along with other men, conspired to murder Barrington ‘Bossie’ Burton, a 27-year-old businessman/promoter of a Gregory Park address in St Catherine. Burton was murdered while he was standing with friends along Walkers Avenue in Gregory Park.”

Burton, who was out on bail after appearing before the Gun Court earlier that same day, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting on 12 July. 

According to the Jamaica Observer, a preliminary hearing will now take place today at the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court.

KARTEL was initially taken into police custody for possession of cannabis on Friday morning (30 September) and then held for questioning.

Palmer's attorney, Christian Tavares-Finson, told the Jamaica Gleaner that he had not yet seen the case file and therefore could not speak in detail on the matter, but declared that his client was prepared to fight the charges.