Buju's retrial set for February 14

http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=26040

Florida, CMC – Jamaican reggae artiste Mark Myrie otherwise known as Buju Banton will face a federal court on February 14 to be retried on drug and gun-related charges. 

The date of the highly anticipated trial was set on Wednesday by Judge James Moody. 

Myrie was last tried in September on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking offence. 

However, the 12-member panel of jurors was unable to reach a verdict following three days of deliberations. That trial lasted a little over a week. 

The second trial was scheduled to get underway last December but was postponed so that Myrie, who is on US$250,000 bail and is subjected to house arrest, could spend time with his family. 

It was not immediately clear if Myrie would be tried on the previous charges or the additional charges tacked on by the prosecution in a new indictment, which are being challenged by the entertainer's legal team. Both the prosecution and defence are awaiting a ruling on the matter. 

Should the new indictment stand, Myrie will be tried for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offence, and facilitating a drug-trafficking offence. 

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years' imprisonment. The United States Government would also seek to seize his assets. 

Myrie was arrested in December of 2009 following the arrests of two other men, Ian Thomas and James Mack, who subsequently pleaded guilty to similar charges.