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Legal
Vybz Kartel charged with murder
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 5 October 2011
Frequently controversial dancehall star Vybz Kartel has been charged with murder. Jamaican authorities arrested the musician, a superstar in his own country, on Friday as part of investigations into the murder of Barrington ‘Bossie’ Burton, a music promoter and businessman who was killed in the Portmore suburb of Kingston in July.
According to Billboard, Kartel was arrested at the hotel where he was staying in Kingston while recording a new reality show for Jamaican TV in which 20 women battle to win the artist’s affections. Initially charged for being in possession of a small quantity of marijuana, he was then escorted to various properties with which he is associated, that were then searched by officers. He was held in custody over the weekend and charged earlier this week. An initial court hearing is now expected any day now.
Kartel’s legal reps have told reporters that their client plans to fight the charges against him. It’s not the first time the controversial musician has been in trouble with the Jamaican authorities, though it is the first time he has actually been charged. Meanwhile, telecommunications company LIME, which was sponsoring the aforementioned reality show – and which was already getting flak from some in the Jamaican media for the salacious nature of the programme – has announced it will be axed.