A popular Jamaican rapper and dancehall star was found guilty of murder on Mar. 13, Billboard reports. Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, and three out of four of his associates were found guilty in the fatal beating of Clive "Lizard" Williams.
Shawn Campbell (aka Shawn Storm), Kahira Jones and Andre St. John all stood trial with Kartel for the murder. A fourth associate, Shane Williams, was the only one found not guilty.
According to reports, police believe Kartel and his friends lured Lizard to the rapper's home in Havendale, St. Andrews in August of 2011 after they suspected him of stealing two guns from them. Police claim that Lizard was brutally beaten to death and his body was cut up and discarded.
The Jamaica Observer reports that police were able to obtain a Blackberry message reportedly from Kartel's cell phone describing the murder. The message was displayed on a screen in the court room and read out by prosecution witness, David Sergeant Patrick Linton.
"Tween me an u a chop up the bwoy Lizard fine fine and dash him way inuh. As long as u live dem can never find him," the message read, according to the newspaper.
"Yeah man a mince meat dat," another read.
The 38-year-old "Summer Time" rapper has been in jail for the past three years following an arrest in connection to the case. According to Billboard, he will be sentenced in court on Mar. 27 but his lawyers plan to appeal the verdict. Reportedly they feel the cell phone and the message describing the beating was tampered with.
The Jamaica Gleaner claims that Kartel and the other three people found guilty could face life in prison.
Kartel has worked with artists like Jay Z, Rihanna, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, Eminem and Lil Wayne. Last year, he stood trial for the murder of businessman Barrington "Bossy" Burton but was found not guilty.
