Buju Banton Convicted On Drug Charges After Mistrial

Buju Banton (left)

Dancehall singer, Buju Banton, real name, Mark Myrie, was convicted this week on drug charges in Tampa, Florida. He has been remanded into custody. The original case brought against him last year resulted in a mistrial.

However, the singer was found guilty this week, in spite of the fact, the government's cooperating witness in the case stated, the drugs, guns and vehicle used in the set up did not belong to Banton. His attorney announced they will lodge an appeal.

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Evidence Against Buju Banton Scant

Buju Banton Facing New Charges After Mistrial

Evidence Against Buju Banton Scant

Buju Banton

Florida prosecutors' case against reggae singer, Buju Banton, who was brought up on drugs and gun charges, is very scant. The first case resulted in a mistrial in September 2010. A retrial is set for this year, with two new charges added, which are overkill in light of the facts surrounding the case.

Based upon one of the government's cooperating witness' testimonies against Banton, real name, Mark Anthony Myrie, the drugs, guns and vehicle involved in the arrest, did not belong to the reggae singer. Clearly the case was quite weak for it to result in a mistrial.

However, many suspect (and have voiced the opinion), due to Banton's homophobic lyrics, certain gays in government are out to silence him and this is the method they have chosen. The Judiciary Report does not agree with Banton's lyrics, as they have become violent...but the site certainly does not agree with entrapment and stitching people up, as a means of vengefully and vindictively violating their right to free speech.

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Buju Banton Facing New Charges After Mistrial

STORY SOURCE

Legal troubles pile up for Buju

February 11, 2011 - Florida court rejects requests from embattled deejay. Reggae superstar Buju Banton has failed in his renewed attempt to have one of his initial co-defendants, James Mack, testify at his new trial...

Sworn Statement..Last August, Mack gave a sworn statement in which he declared that he had never spoken to Buju. In that statement, Mack also declared that the money and gun found in the car when he was arrested did not come from Buju.

That would be a boost for Buju in his retrial but the court on Wednesday held that, with Mack yet to be sentenced, there was nothing new to prevent him from pleading the Fifth...

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110211/lead/lead5.html