Buju Banton defense fund set up - Lawyer says trial has taken a financial toll

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Buju-Banton-defense-Fund-set-up

Buju Banton defense fund set up

Lawyer says trial has taken a financial toll

DAVID Markus, the defence attorney representing Jamaican Reggae singer Buju Banton has set up a fund to assist the cash-strapped artiste pay his legal fees for the upcoming retrial in December.

Markus told the Observer that the cost of the first trial has taken a huge financial toll on the artiste and asked fans, friends and supporters of the artiste to assist in any way they can.

Funds can be wired to:

Markus & Markus, PLLC

(Defense Fund for Buju Banton)

40 NW Third Street, PH 1

Miami, FL 33128

Citibank, N A

Coral Way Branch

1600 Coral Way

Miami, FL 33145

ABA # 266086554

Account # 9118130472

For international wires the Swift Code is CITIUS33.

Banton will know next week if he will be given bail as United States judge Anthony Porcelli reserved his judgement when Markus argued for bail this week.

He faces a sentence of 20 years to life if he is found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kiolgrammes of cocaine.

Banton's first trial in September ended in a mistrial after a panel of jurors failed to come to a unanimous verdict, following three days of deliberations.

He has been languishing in the Pinellas County Jail in Tampa. Florida for almost ten months after he was arrested by Federal Agents at his home in Tamarac, South Florida.