Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson has argued that the cost should not prevent a retrial of Vybz Kartel and his three co-appellants for murder.

In making submissions in the Court of appeal this morning, Ms. Thompson said the state will have to bear the cost of a retrial.

She said a retrial is necessary in the interest of justice.

Ms. Thompson said the crime of murder is worth a retrial and this murder specifically because of how it was done, the reason it was done and why the conviction was quashed.

She added that the prosecution would be ready for a retrial by 2025.

Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell, Andre St. John and Kahira Jones were convicted of the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams.

They had their murder convictions overturned by the Privy Council in March. 

The Court of Appeal will determine whether or not a retrial should occur.

The hearing is slated to end on Friday.