Dancehall Entertainer Vybz Kartel and his three co-appellants have been acquitted of murder.

The ruling means that there is no need for a retrial and the men are free.

Today’s decision follows the ruling by the United Kingdom-based Privy Council in March to quash the murder convictions and send the case back to the local Court of Appeal for a determination on retrial.

The ruling this afternoon is the culmination of a series of proceedings, set in motion by the four men’s decision to appeal their conviction for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams.

Court of Appeal President, Marva McDonald-Bishop read an excerpt from the full judgement, which she noted would be made available on the court’s website.

She said following June’s retrial hearing, all submissions from the defence and prosecution were considered.

She also explained that the Court of Appeal was guided by twelve factors in the determination process.

Before revealing the decision, Justice McDonald-Bishop stressed that the egregious nature and seriousness of the offence were beyond argument.

She added that features of the case was a barefaced defiance of law and order.

Justice McDonald-Bishop, however, noted that several equally powerful factors, when combined, militate ordering a new trial.

Among other factors, she said the court looked at the loss of time between the commissioning of the alleged offence, and the likely time in which a new trial could take place.

She says the new trial could last an estimated 15 years.