Dancehall star Vybez Kartel and his fiancée, Sidem Oztürk, celebrated his release from prison in style, taking a limo ride together. Kartel was warmly greeted by dozens of fans upon his release on Wednesday, July 31.
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In his first Instagram post since the Court of Appeal acquitted him of murder charges, Kartel shared a video of himself and Oztürk kissing as he exited the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in downtown Kingston. He captioned the video, “Me and Wifey #AMOUT.”
The couple left the area in a white Perry’s limousine. Oztürk, a former social worker from London of Turkish descent, moved to Jamaica recently. She revealed that she started corresponding with Vybez Kartel in 2015 and finally met him in person when she traveled to Jamaica in 2019.
Notably absent from the photos of Kartel’s release was his long-time common-law wife, Tanesha “Shorty” Johnson, who is the mother of three of his seven children.
The couple reportedly separated in 2018. Despite their separation, Kartel released an album in 2020 titled “To Tanesha,” dedicated to and co-produced by Shorty. In September 2022, he dedicated an EP titled “New Religion” to Oztürk.
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Vybez Kartel, 48, has seven children with five women—five boys and two girls. His children include three sons with Shorty: Likkle Vybz, Likkle Addi, and Aiko; a son named Shahiem, who lives in the US; another son named Kahieme; his oldest daughter, Adi’Anna “Girl Boss” Palmer, with entrepreneur Sherika Todd; and his youngest daughter, Amani.
Kartel and three other men were convicted in 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. However, the UK-based Privy Council overturned the convictions earlier this year and sent the case back to the Court of Appeal to determine if there should be a new trial.
Am out! Me and WIFEY 🍾 pic.twitter.com/UeChSH33Wt
— Vybz Kartel (@Vybz_Official) July 31, 2024
On July 31, 2024, the Court of Appeal decided against a retrial despite the severity of the crime. Several factors opposed it, including the prosecution’s inadequate handling of witnesses and trial exhibits, the time and financial costs of a new trial, its impact on the Court’s resources and other pending cases, and the psychological, financial, and medical effects on the appellants. The court also cited the violation of their right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time.
With his newfound freedom, Vybez Kartel looks forward to a new chapter in his life, supported by his fiancée and eagerly awaited by his fans.
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