News
Vybz Kartel’s Murder Conviction Overturned
Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel’s conviction for murder has been overturned.
Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, has been incarcerated since 2014 following his conviction for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams after a 64-day trial, one of the lengthiest in Jamaican legal history.
Sentenced initially to a minimum of 35 years behind bars, Kartel’s term has been subsequently reduced to 32 years. According to BBC, Williams and another individual, known as Chow, were entrusted with Kartel’s firearms for “safekeeping.” When they failed to return the weapons, Chow testified that they were both attacked, leading to Williams’ disappearance, and Kartel’s residence was subsequently burned down days later.
Williams’ body was never recovered, and Kartel, along with his co-defendants Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John, have maintained their innocence.
Their last hope for justice laid in the appeal hearing before The Privy Council, the highest court of appeal in Jamaica and other Commonwealth nations, where they sought to overturn the verdict.
In delivering the council’s decision, a panel of justices highlighted a critical flaw: a juror accused of attempting to bribe fellow jurors was not removed from the trial. Despite the accusation, the judge allowed this juror to remain on the case and participate in the final verdicts.
The council deemed this allowance “fatal to the safety of the convictions” and a clear violation of the defendants’ fundamental right to a fair trial.
Moreover, the men argued that jurors were pressured into reaching a verdict late in the day, potentially compromising the integrity of the decision-making process. However, the panel did not delve into these allegations, as the seriousness of the bribery accusation alone warranted the dismissal of the guilty verdicts.
The Jamaican Court of Appeal will decide whether or not a retrial will take place.
Culture
Summer Walker Announces Third Studio Album ‘Finally Over It’ & New Single “Heart of a Woman”
Summer Walker has officially unveiled the title of her much-anticipated third studio album, Finally Over It, which will be released under LVRN/Interscope Records. The announcement came after fans engaged in a unique interactive experience on Spotify, where they filled in the blank for a canvas that teased the album’s name as “_____ Over It.”
Leading up to its release, Walker has announced the first single, “Heart of a Woman,” now available for pre-save, which she teased on TikTok. Finally Over It is the follow-up to her chart-topping sophomore album, Still Over It, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
News
Diddy To Remain In Custody; Trafficking Trial Set for May 2025
Disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared in court today, where Judge Arun Subramanian scheduled his federal trial to begin on May 5, 2025, during a hearing held in New York on October 10. Combs is to remain in custody until the trial date.
Combs, escorted by U.S. Marshals, entered the courtroom with his ankles shackled, wearing a loose-fitting tan shirt and khaki pants. Several family members were present in the second row, according to CNN.
Diddy is being charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. Prosecutor Emily Johnson anticipates the case to span three weeks, though a potential superseding indictment may extend the trial’s duration, bringing additional charges or defendants into the fold.
Marc Agnifilo, the attorney representing Combs, stated that the defense expects their presentation to last approximately one week. Judge Subramanian also announced he will issue an order prohibiting both parties from making public statements regarding grand jury materials and other non-public evidence, following Combs’ attorneys filing a motion on Wednesday, Oct. 9, accusing the government of leaking a video showing Combs assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura.
News
JAY-Z and Beyoncé’s Lawyers Send Piers Morgan A Letter Following Jaguar Wright Interview
Last week, Jaguar Wright appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored, where she discussed Sean “Diddy” Combs’ recent arrest. During the interview, she referred to both Diddy and JAY-Z as “monsters,” and claimed that the Roc Nation rapper and his wife, Beyoncé, were also responsible for harming hundreds of victims.
On Tuesday, October 8, Piers Morgan issued a public apology on YouTube and released an edited version of Wright’s interview that omitted her accusations. In his statement, Morgan explained:
“Jaguar, unexpectedly, made several serious allegations about Jay-Z and Beyoncé during that interview. As I said in the moment, they were not present to respond or defend themselves, but now they have. Their lawyers contacted us to say that those claims were ‘totally false’ and have no basis in fact, and we’ve therefore complied with a legal request to cut them from the original interview. Editing interviews is not something we do lightly at a show called Uncensored but like the proverbial cries of fire in a crowded theater, there are legal limits on us, too. And we apologize to Jay-Z and Beyoncé.”
Morgan continued, “The thing about platforms, the reality of the modern world is that pretty much everyone has a platform as long as they have something to say that other people want to hear. That’s why we invited [Wright] on to be interviewed. The people making these claims have an audience with or without shows like mine.”
Beyoncé & Jay Z’s lawyers got Pierce Morgan to issue an apology and retraction on his “Uncensored” show after he allowed a deranged woman come on and spew falsehoods about them.
— COWBOY CARTER Updates 𐚁 ⭑ (@B7Album) October 8, 2024
Who’s next?
pic.twitter.com/f3Dw7L7FsD
- Audio3 weeks ago
Ciara & Busta Rhymes Team Up on New Single ‘Wassup’
- Massachusetts3 weeks ago
EK39 Releases “Watered Down / Beautiful Curse”
- Audio4 weeks ago
BIA & Lil Yachty Team Up on New Single ‘Pissed Off’
- Music3 weeks ago
Rod Wave Drops New Single ‘Fall Fast In Love,’ Announces ‘Last Lap’ Album
- Music3 weeks ago
The Weeknd Releases New Single ‘Timeless’ Featuring Playboi Carti
- Culture3 weeks ago
Lloyd Banks Announces ‘All Or Nothing Vol. 3: Despite My Mistakes’
- Albums3 weeks ago
Tee Grizzley Releases New Album ‘Post Traumatic’
- Music4 weeks ago
J. Cole Joins Tee Grizzley On ‘Blow For Blow’