Buju Banton Granted Evidentiary Hearing

Embattled dancehall star Buju Banton got a major break in his ongoing case last week when a judge granted him an evidentiary hearing.

The hearing comes just weeks after Buju’s lawyer, Chokwe Lumumba, and his defense support committee files an application after learning that one of the jurors violates court orders.

The hearing is scheduled to take place at the Sam M. Gibbons Federal Court in Tampa, Florida on December 20th.

Four of the jurors involved in the infamous trial will answer to the court during that hearing.

Last month, juror Terri Wright admitted in an interview that she researched aspects of the case on her computer before reaching a verdict. If that turns out to be true, the judge could rule in favour of a mistrial.

Wright said her research of the case did not influence her decision.

Buju Banton, born Mark Myrie, is currently serving a 10-year sentence in a Florida prison after being convicted in February of three counts of drug trafficking charges.

The Grammy-winning singer is also facing an additional five years on a gun charge.

Source: http://urbanislandz.com/2012/11/19/buju-banton-granted-evidentiary-hearing/

Buju cannot duck sentencing

Buju Banton, real name Mark Myrie, will not be allowed to sit out his upcoming sentencing hearing.

The embattled reggae star was ordered by a federal judge to report to his sentencing hearing next month. The news has come days after Buju's lawyer, Ihmotep Alkebu-lan, filed a request for the singer's absence.

The hearing became necessary after Buju lost an appeal to overturn his 10-year prison sentence. In addition to having his request for a new trial thrown out, the judge also added a previous gun possession charge which was thrown out at the end of his trial.

The additional gun charge could put five more years on to Buju's sentence.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 30.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120918/ent/ent5.html

Buju wants to be absent from sentencing hearing

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Incarcerated Reggae star Buju Banton, has requested that he not be present at his sentencing on a firearm charge in the US District Court in Tampa, Florida next month. A member of Banton's legal team Ihmotep Alkebu-lan told the Jamaica Observer that the artiste has made a formal request that he be absent from the hearing.

"He has asked not to be transported from prison to the court for the sentencing," Alkebu-lan said.
He is currently being housed at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Miami, a low security prison.
However Banton will have to wait on a court ruling to find out if his request will be granted.
Banton had appealed his 10-year sentence after being found guilty on cocaine related charges but the appeal was thrown out by an Appellate Court based in the state of Georgia.
The court also re-instated a firearm charge that was dismissed by judge James Moody. Moody reasoned that Banton had never spoken to or met his co-defendant James Mack, who was held with Ian Thomas in a government controlled warehouse attempting to but a large quantity of cocaine. The gun was found in a hidden compartment of a car Mack was driving.
Both men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to five years but Banton has maintained his innocence and claimed the US government entrapped him by hiring the services of convicted drug dealer turned government informant Alexander Johnson.
Banton faces an additional five years on the firearm charge.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Buju-wants-to-be-absent-from-sentencing-hearing#ixzz26YCj4qvy