On the heels of news that one of his co-conspirators was released on Tuesday, Buju Banton is making a push to get his criminal charges dropped, making him a free man. Buju, who’s real name is Mark Myrie, was convicted last year on three counts of drug trafficking and subsequently sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Banton’s co conspirators Ian Thomas and James Mack turned against him and signed a plea bargain with the prosecution. Thomas was released from federal prison last week, and Mack is scheduled to be set free in November. However, new information about the trial may have Buju out soon as well. According to the Jamaica Observer:
“Banton has been adamant that he is innocent of the charges and despite being sentenced to 10 years is fighting for a new trial after the jury foreperson in his second trial, Teri Wright, was found guilty of contempt of court after it was revealed that she had disobeyed an order from Magistrate James Moody not to study any aspect of the law as it related to Banton’s case. Banton is seeking to ask a US court to throw out his guilty verdict on the grounds that the jury was tainted.”
Buju has obtained new legal counsel since his former lawyer has become the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. Buju is said to have been transferred to an Oklahoma prison for unknown reasons.
If the news that the jury was tainted in Buju Banton’s trial, the case should be thrown out and a retrial should be set. Buju may have found himself in an unfortunate situation, but he still has the right, as a citizen of a democratic nation, to a fair trial.
This story is ongoing, and will be followed up, hopefully, with news in Buju’s favor.
