Before the Dawn - Buju's new album released today

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Before-the-Dawn-Bujus-new-album-released-today_7949438

Before the Dawn - Buju's new album released today

Despite his current incarceration, Buju Banton was heavily involved in putting together this latest album, Before The Dawn. From choosing the final track listing and labouring over the phone with the producers and engineers to get the mixes just right, as well as to conceptualising the project's distinguished packaging, was the level of his involvement.

Hard copies of the album contain a special note written from inside the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Florida, where he has been housed for the past nine months.

Buju’s new album released today

Buju’s new album released today 1/1

Before The Dawn will drop in North America and Japan today. The release date for the UK and France has been set for October 4, however, it will be available in the rest of Europe a few days earlier from October 1. Fans around the world may pre-order the album now on both iTunes and Amazon.com.

The ninth studio album by the international musician, Before The Dawn boasts 10 tracks that comprise some of the most powerful songs written by Banton since his professional entry into the music business over twenty years ago.

Recorded at Banton's own Gargamel Music studio in Kingston, Jamaica, Before The Dawn is said to contain the traditional roots Reggae sound on the track Do Good, a little classic rock on the tune No Smoking At All, and deep reggae on Battered & Bruised. Buju's handlers have named the track Innocent as the album's unofficial anthem, which they claim strikes a highly personal chord that is hoped will resonate deeply with the artiste's long-time fans.

Hung jury in Buju trial

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Hung-jury-in-Buju-case

Hung jury in Buju trial
Monday, September 27, 2010


TAMPA, Florida — The jurors in the Buju Banton trial have just told US Judge Jim Moody that they have failed to come to a unanimous decision despite almost three days of deliberations.

A new trial date is to be set and will be announced today.

Banton's lawyer David Markus has applied for bail for his client and the judge is expected to address the application later today.

Jurors evenly split on Buju's fate - Judge rejects lawyer's motion for mistrial

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/Jurors-evenly-split-on-Buju-s-fate

Jurors evenly split on Buju's fate
Judge rejects lawyer's motion for mistrial 

TAMPA, Florida — A jury foreman minutes ago told United States judge Jim Moody that they have not been able to reach a verdict in the drug case involving Jamaican Reggae star Buju Banton.

The foreman said the 12-member jury was split evenly.

"I don't know if we will get to a final decision. We don't feel that we will progress, so could you provide further instructions? Since Thursday we have been reviewing evidence, nobody has changed their minds from their original positions," the jury foreman told the court.

Moody then instructed the jurors to take their time in coming to a final decision.

"Be as leisurely as the occasion may require," Moody said.

The judge gave further instructions that none of the jurors should surrender their conscience decision.

Banton's attorney David Markus then filed a motion for a mistrial but Moody rejected the motion.

Banton appeared in court in a white shirt and a cream coloured pants today. His feet were shackled.

The long wait for a verdict has not been going down well with the artiste's supporters who all appeared nervous. 

Drums beat for Buju Banton - Vigil held at artiste's studio over weekend

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Drums-beat-for-Buju-Banton

Drums beat for Buju Banton
Vigil held at artiste's studio over weekend 

Jamaica Observer
Monday, September 27, 2010

ELDER Rastafarians gathered at Buju Banton's Carlisle Avenue Gargamel Studios and chanted nyahbingi all night Saturday and Sunday. The drums — the kette, funde, and bass — pounded all night as the Rastafarians chanted for Buju's freedom.

Banton is awaiting a verdict in his drug-related case in Florida.

"Black liberation day. Oh what a great day this will be when I and I are free," the Rastafarians chanted in unison.

Several artistes, supporters and well-wishers also gathered at the studio to show their solidarity with the artiste and participate in the two-night vigil.

"When Rastaman beat drums, babylon quake and the beat of the drum shook Rome," an elder Rastafarian said.

One Rastafarian travelled several miles from the hills of deep rural St Andrew to show his support for the artiste.

"A months me no come inna the city. I man live inna the hills far from babylon and them corruption but I man haffi come a Buju come send up two chant fi the King cause babylon must free up the man," the elder Rastafarian said.

The Gargamel Studios is situated in the middle-class neighbourhood of Whitehall Gardens and although many of its residents are working-class, there were few complaints about the constant pounding of the drums.

"Yes, it is a bit incessant, but we too want Buju to be freed and if the Rastas chanting is any help, let them chant for the man. He is very likeable person and a good neighbour," one woman who gave her name as 'Sandie' said.

The panel of jurors will resume deliberations this morning at the US Gibbons court in Tampa, Florida.
 

Buju to get December trial date - Bail application to be heard tomorrow

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/New-trial-in-December-for-Buju

Buju to get December trial date
Bail application to be heard tomorrow

BY PAUL HENRY Observer reporter
Monday, September 27, 2010

TAMPA, Florida — Reggae star Buju Banton will have to wait until December to know his fate.

United States Judge Tim Moody announced that a new trial will begin in December.

Banton's attorney David Markus made an application for bail for his client and was told that the court would hear the application tomorrow.

Banton seemed relieved when the announcement of a new trial date was made.

Worldwide appeal for Buju

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Worldwide-appeal-for-Buju_7999514

Worldwide appeal for Buju

Supporters intensify prayers, fasting for Reggae artiste's freedom

BY PAUL HENRY Observer staff reporter henryp@jamaicaobserver.com 

TAMPA, USA — Scores of Buju Banton supporters are hopeful that the Reggae artiste will be freed this morning after spending an anxiety-filled weekend in earnest prayer and fasting, and calling on worldwide audiences to join them in their appeal to God.

Jurors are expected to continue deliberating Banton's fate in the Sam M Gibbons Court this morning.

Buju Banton

"We are praying for freedom. That is what we are praying for because freedom is a must," a supporter who goes by the name Ruben, told the Observer yesterday.

"The heathens said there is no God, but we are going to show them that there is a God," added Ruben, who spoke on behalf of the group.

Supporters of Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, have spent prayerful days since his arrest last December on cocaine-related charges and since the opening of his trial last Monday.

On the weekend, however, the calls on heaven appeared more intense as jurors on Friday concluded a second day of deliberation without arriving at a verdict. Across the Internet, requests were made for supporters to pray for Banton's acquittal, while others said they would be praying and fasting for a favourable outcome.

At a hotel in Tampa, where scores of Banton's supporters and relatives checked in after flying in from New York, Los Angeles and Jamaica, fasting and prayer and the reading of Bible verses was the order of the day.

The supporters co-ordinated their prayer time to coincide with that of Banton's. Banton is being held without bail.

And there is every reason to pray. If convicted of the crime the US Government is contending that the Jamaican artiste has committed, Banton, 37, could be sentenced to anywhere from 20 years to life in prison, and a fine of up to US$4 million.

Banton was arrested at his Tamarac, Florida home on December 10 and charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute five kilogrammes of cocaine and possession of a weapon during the furtherance of a crime.

His arrest followed that of two of his former co-accused, Ian Thomas and James Mack, who were nabbed during a sting operation at a warehouse in Florida after buying the five kilogrammes of cocaine from drug enforcement agents. Mack was carrying the gun for which Banton has been charged.

Thomas and Mack, who were jointly charged with Banton, pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in November.

Jurors will, at 8:45 this morning continue, to deliberate on whether or not Banton was a party to the deal at the warehouse.

The prosecution, led by Jim Preston, has said that Banton was the mastermind behind the deal; that he was the man who brought it all together with his earlier talks with Government informant Alexander Johnson as far back as July 2009.

Both men had met on a flight from Madrid to Florida, during which time drugs were discussed and they met the following day and remained in telephone contact.

Preston had told the jurors during the trial that Banton in December introduced Thomas to Johnson for the men to conclude the deal. Thomas eventually contacted Mack, who came from Georgia with US$130,000 to purchase the illicit drug when the two were arrested.

Only two days earlier, on December 8, Banton was videotaped tasting a sample of cocaine after Thomas handed him a knife which he used to cut into a five kilogramme parcel of drug.

But Banton's lawyer, David Oscar Markus, countered during the trial that his client was entrapped by the Government. He said that Johnson had, between July and December, vigourously pressured Banton about making cocaine deals.

Banton had said in his own defence that he was merely talking "crap" and trying impress Johnson when he was recorded between July and December talking about investing in the trafficking of cocaine.

The artiste told jurors that he did not know that he would be seeing drugs when he accompanied Johnson to a warehouse on December 8 where he was videotaped tasting the cocaine.

Banton said that Johnson had led him to believe he was going to inspect a sailboat Johnson owned.

Indeed, Johnson had testified under cross-examination that on December 8 he never told Banton that he was going to see cocaine. He said it was a flash showing.

Banton testified that he had stopped taking Johnson's calls since that day when he realised that Johnson was a real drug dealer.

While giving evidence last week, Banton told the jurors that he was "nervous and scared".

On Thursday, just as the case was being turned over to the jurors for deliberation, Banton turned to his supporters seated behind him and indicated that they should pray.

Understanding The Buju Banton Case

http://www.dancehall.mobi/2010/09/26/understanding-the-buju-banton-case-dancehall-mobi-qa/

Understanding The Buju Banton Case
Dancehall.Mobi Q&A

After a full-day of deliberation on Friday (September 24), the 13 member panel of jurors in the U.S. federal drug conspiracy trial of dancehall/reggae artiste Buju Banton were yet to reach a verdict. Deliberations were adjourned for the weekend, and are set to resume tomorrow morning at 8:45 (EST). Local, regional and international interest in this case has been intense, and there has also been some amount of confusion surrounding several points of interest in the case and U.S. law in general. As such, Dancehall.Mobi put a few questions to Sarah Hsia, a U.S. attorney who consults with the Jamaican law firm GORDON | McGRATH. Our questions are in bold below, followed by her detailed responses.

1) Why are the jurors taking so long to come to a decision. What facts of the case might be tying them up?

SH: In criminal cases in the US, all 12 jurors (the 13th juror is an alternate and does not participate in deliberations unless, as has happened with this case, one of the jurors is excused) must unanimously agree on whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty. In order for them to find Mr. Myrie guilty, all 12 jurors must believe that he is guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt” (usually interpreted as more than 95% sure). It is really difficult to get 12 strangers to agree on anything! And in this case, because the prosecution did not have any direct evidence linking Mr. Myrie to the money or the drugs, the case really depends on whether the jury believes the prosecution’s witnesses, or the defense’s witnesses. In other words, it’s a “he said-she said” situation.

The prosecution’s case relies heavily on the testimony of its informant, Mr. Johnson, as well as on Mr. Thomas and Mr. Mack, Mr. Myrie’s co-defendants. The jury might not believe these witnesses, because each of them potentially has an ulterior motive for making their statements: the informant, because he is being paid by the government, and the co-defendants, because they have made plea deals with the government. In other words, the prosecution’s witnesses are not innocent bystanders. On the other hand, the prosecution has Mr. Myrie on tape engaging in acts that could indicate that he was involved in the drug deal. Will the jury believe Mr. Myrie’s testimony over Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Mack? This is probably why the deliberations are still ongoing.

2) Do the jurors have to reach a verdict within a set time or could this go on indefinitely?

SH: There is no set time for the jurors to reach a verdict; however, at some point, if they really cannot reach a unanimous decision, they will declare themselves deadlocked, and the judge must declare a mistrial. The government could then decide to retry its case against Buju. This would mean he would have to stay in jail pending the retrial.

3) How many of the jurors need to ‘agree’ in order to arrive at a verdict?

SH: In the United States, all 12 jurors must unanimously agree on a verdict.

4) If he’s found not guilty, what happens next (given that he’s not an American .. Will they deport him?)?

SH: I understand that just after he was arrested, the US revoked his visa. This means that even if he is acquitted of the charges pending against him, he will be deported to Jamaica.

5) If he’s found guilty, what happens next? Can he appeal? Does it make sense for him to appeal? How far ‘up’ can he take the appeal?

SH: If Mr. Myrie is found guilty, he can appeal. Given his immigration status, he would have to stay in jail pending the appeal. According to a report in the Jamaica Observer newspaper, the U.S. Government reportedly offered him a plea deal sentence of two years. If this is true, since the appeal process could easily take another year or more, he might decide to take the plea deal and just serve the two years rather than spend another year in jail and still risk ending up with a sentence of 20 years to life. However, a felony conviction would severely curtail his ability to tour as an artiste in the future, as many countries will deny visas to convicted felons (as we saw with Paris Hilton in Japan recently).

6) If found not guilty, will he still be able to visit and work (perform, tours etc.) in the United States?

SH: He would not be able to return to the United States without a visa. Either way, his touring career will likely take a huge blow.

7) If found not guilty, can he be retried at a later date (for e.g. If the prosecution finds new evidence)?

SH: No. In the U.S., there is something called “double jeopardy”, which means that if a defendant is found not guilty of a crime, he may not be retried for the same or similar crime.

8.) Please explain this whole concept of conspiracy as it relates to U.S. Law and this particular case.

SH: In the U.S., a conspiracy to commit a crime is committed when a defendant agrees with one or more people to commit a crime, and one of them actually commits the crime (it doesn’t matter which one). In other words, if you and I agree to rob a bank, and you actually go rob the bank without me, I would still be guilty of conspiracy. I understand that the jury asked the Judge on Friday afternoon whether a crime was actually committed in the warehouse when Mr. Myrie’s co-defendants were arrested, and the Judge responded yes. That means that the jury is most likely still trying to decide whether Mr. Myrie agreed with his co-defendants to commit the crime for which they were arrested. We know that the prosecution has Mr. Myrie on tape engaging in acts that could indicate that he knew about the drug deal. But did he agree to commit a crime with Mr. Mack and Mr. Thomas? That is the big question.

9) This trial proceeded rapidly (went to the jurors for deliberation within 4 days). Is this the normal pace for a trial like this in the U.S. Courts?

SH: The speed of a trial depends largely on how complicated the case is, how much evidence there is, and what the lawyers’ strategies are. The pace of this trial was actually pretty quick, I thought, which either means that the prosecution is very confident in their case, or that their case is weak for lack of evidence. One possibility is that even though their case was weak, the prosecution is gambling that Mr. Myrie would rather take a conviction and a relatively brief prison sentence, rather than risk more than 20 years in jail.

10) Do you think it’s a good sign (for either the defence or the prosecution) that the jury deliberations are taking so long?

SH: It is impossible to say either way! Jury deliberations depend so much on factors such as the personalities of the jurors, and their personal experiences and prejudices; it is entirely possible that two different juries seeing the same evidence could return different verdicts! Someone who lost their job, for example, could feel really bitter towards a government informant who was making an enormous amount of money for being involved in crime. Or a juror who has a dominant personality can sometimes railroad weaker jurors into agreeing with them.
However, in my experience, jurors are typically eager to finish jury service and get back to their lives and their jobs. If the jury was close to a unanimous verdict, I think that it is likely that they would have finished deliberations on Friday, so they wouldn’t need to return on Monday. The fact that they are continuing deliberations on Monday means that it is not a clear cut case. But, it is also possible that a juror who was ‘on the fence’ on Friday, could have thought about it all weekend, and reached a decision. So it could all be resolved on Monday morning.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100926/ap_en_ot/cb_jamaica_buju_banton_6

Buju Banton's drug trial the talk of Jamaica

By DAVID McFADDEN, Associated Press Writer David Mcfadden, Associated Press Writer – Sun Sep 26, 6:41 pm ET

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The U.S. drug trial of reggae star Buju Banton is the talk of Jamaica, where islanders are debating his guilt or innocence on street corners, in offices, in letters to the editor and on social networking websites.
Banton, a four-time Grammy nominee who rose from the slums of Kingston to success in the 1990s, was arrested on federal drug charges in December and a Florida jury is deliberating whether he conspired to buy cocaine from an undercover police officer. The 12-person panel reconvenes Monday in Tampa federal court.
In the Jamaican capital, some people are dissecting every detail of Banton's case, a few even comparing him to the late reggae legend Bob Marley.
"I've been following it close because Buju is big in Jamaica, like a Bob Marley. Way I see it, they need to free the man cause they don't have any concrete evidence against him," Charles Barrett, a resident of the capital, said Sunday.
For others the case is more of a curiosity, a media-fed sensation that distracts from weightier news.
His most ardent fans are talking of conspiracy theories — that he was framed by the U.S. government or gay activists who have protested violent, homophobic lyrics from early in Banton's career as a brash dancehall singer.
"We all know it was a government set up. Just because of your beliefs they want to imprison you," wrote a person identified as R. Johnson on a Web page titled "Free Buju Banton."
The husky-voiced Rastafarian singer has long been a star in his homeland with the brash reggae-rap hybrid of dancehall music and, more recently, a traditional reggae sound.
"He's a major, major figure here, so his trial has dominated the media and people's conversations," Jamaican musicologist and disc jockey Bunny Goodison said. "He's been extremely important through the years because he's represented Rastafari and black consciousness in a very focused way."
On Friday, a false story that Banton had been found innocent was broadcast on an island radio station. Tumultuous applause broke out at an elite prep school when the rumor was announced as fact on the public address system. People across Kingston spread the false bulletin on Facebook and Twitter.
"The best illustration of Buju's importance is the broad sympathy for him and the desire for his release," said Carolyn Cooper, a professor of literary and cultural studies at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies.
Others are far less sympathetic to the 37-year-old entertainer, whose real name is Mark Myrie.
"No matter how the trial turns out, Mr. Myrie has already let down himself and his fans," the Jamaica Observer said in an editorial Sunday.
Banton is charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and aiding two others in possessing a firearm during the course of cocaine distribution. He faces up to life in prison.
In closing statements Thursday, Banton's attorney argued that an undercover U.S. government informant managed to connect only the two other men, but not Banton, to the conspiracy. Banton's team of lawyers has tried to prove the singer was a victim of entrapment.
The singer testified that he talked a lot about cocaine with a U.S. government informant, but said he was just trying to impress the man, who claimed to have music industry connections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Preston argued that Banton's conversations with the informant put the conspiracy into motion. Prosecutors said Banton was an established drug trafficker by the time he met the informant and the singer was looking for "more, new and different money through a new conspiracy he was shopping for" in addition to drug deals he had already financed.
Banton's arrest derailed plans to tour Japan after a tumultuous U.S. tour for his Grammy-nominated 2009 album, "Rasta Got Soul." Shows in several U.S. cities were canceled because of protests over his early homophobic lyrics and unapologetic anti-gay stance through the years.

DEA agent testifies in Buju's favour: Says he has no evidence reggae singer is a drug dealer

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/DEA-agent-testifies-in-Buju-s-favour

DEA agent testifies in Buju's favour: Says he has no evidence reggae singer is a drug dealer 

TAMPA, Florida — Drug Enforcement Agent Daniel McCeaffrey, today testified that he had no evidence that Reggae singer Buju Banton, was involved in illicit drug dealing.

McCeaffrey, who gave evidence on the first day of the trial at the Gibbons US Federal Court in downtown Tampa, said there was no evidence that Buju Banton — whose real name is Mark Myrie — received any money from any drug deal.

He also said even though he was investigating Banton for a year, he could find no evidence that the artiste had collected any money from drug dealing.

He made the revelation during cross-examination from Banton's attorney David Markus.

Markus, in his opening salvo, told the 14-member panel of jurors that he would prove that Myrie was not a drug trafficker and had never invested in illicit drug dealing. He said that artiste would waive his right not to testify.

"He's got nothing to hide because the truth is on his side in this case," Markus said.

He said his client's big mistake was that he loved to talk. Markus said Myrie met DEA informant Alexander Johnson, a Colombian national, on a flight from Madrid Spain to Florida last year and during conversation Johnson introduced the subject of drug dealing to him.

He said Myrie had in fact tasted cocaine but that did not qualify him as a drug dealer.

Markus also argued that Myrie did not know about the US$130,000 that his co-defendant James Mack had been held with. The money he said was given to Mack by two men identified as 'Ike' and 'Tike' from Atlanta, Georgia.

The attorney said Mack and Ian Thomas were the ones who were dealing drugs and said his client made a decision not to partake in any deal and went to his Tamarac home in Florida, where he was arrested in December last year.

Mack and Thomas have taken plea deals and have agreed to testify against the artiste. All three are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilogrammes of cocaine. The charge carries a sentence of 20 years to life and a fine of up to US$4 million.

Prosecutor Jim Preston argued that he would prove that Myrie is a known drug dealer who invested in multi-million dollar drug enterprises and he was arrested because he was starting a new venture.

Forensic chemist Alexandra Gongra also gave evidence that the substance that Thomas and Mack were arrested with was cocaine.

Telephone records analyst Donnie Godshoal also gave evidence today.

Dozens of Banton's supporters turned up outside the court to show their solidarity with the four time Grammy nominee.

His former manager Donovan Germaine, VP Records President Chris Chin and Deejay Delly Ranks were also present for the trial.

Jury selected for Buju Banton trial

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/Jurors-selected-for-Buju-Banton-trial

Jury selected for Buju Banton trial
Reggae artiste appears to be in good spirits

Observer reporter PAUL HENRY reports from Tampa, Florida
Monday, September 20, 2010

TAMPA, United States — A 14 member panel of jurors was selected for the trial of Reggae singer Buju Banton in the Gibbons US Court in downtown Tampa this morning. The jury includes seven woman and only two African Americans.

Several jurors were excused because they expressed the view that marijuana should be made legal for medicinal purposes. However, Banton's lawyer David Oscar Markus, said he was satisfied with the make up of the jury.

Banton walked into court a few minutes before the proceedings started in a sports coat and black pants. His locks were caught up in a ponytail and his beard appeared well-groomed.

Six of his relatives and members of his band were also in court. Before the proceedings got underway, they held hands and sent up a prayer. There are also persons who have travelled from Jamaica and Los Angeles to support the artiste.

Banton is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine. His two co-defendants Ian Thomas and James Mack, have signed plea agreements and agreed to testify against him in exchange for lesser sentences.

The prosecution intends to call nine witnesses in a bid to secure a conviction against the artiste, who is registered as Mark Anthony Myrie.

Banton was arrested at his Tamarac home in South Florida in December, the same day Mack and Thomas were held attempting to buy cocaine from federal agents in a police controlled warehouse in Saratoga.

If found guilty Banton could be slapped with a sentence of 20 years to life and a fine of up to US$4 million.

The court is now in recess and evidence is expected to be presented when the trial resumes at 1:30 this afternoon.