BASSETERRE St. Kitts, January 31st 2011 – POPULAR Jamaican four-time Grammy winning reggae artiste Buju Banton will be back in court on February 14 for a retrial of the charges brought against him in Florida in December 2009.
Buju was charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and aiding two others in possessing a firearm during the course of cocaine distribution.
It is alleged that he and two associates tried to buy cocaine from undercover federal agents.
The artiste had been in jail for almost one year before his trail began in September 2009 and had his case set back on a number of occasions.
Buju’s trial lasted for just over one week but a 12-member jury was unable to arrive at a verdict after deliberating for three days.
The ‘Sleepless Nights’ singer, who was born Mark Anthony Mryie, was granted conditional bail in November 2010 after having being denied on several occasions.
Bail was granted to the tune US$250 000 on the conditions that Mryie would only be able to leave his house for meetings with his attorney, for doctors’ appointments and to purchase medication. He also has to wear an electronic monitoring device and be subjected to random drug testing.
According to an article by go-jamaica.com, it is 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.
The article also stated that should the new indictment stands, Myrie would 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.
The 37-year-old started his singing career in the 1980s and is known for popular hits that include ‘Willy Don’t Be Silly’, ‘Mr. Nine’, ‘Paid Not Played’, ‘Murderer’, ‘Driver’ and ‘Magic City’.
Although he was incarcerated at time, Myrie’s label, ‘Gargamel Records’ released his ninth studio album, titled ‘Before The Dawn’, in September 2010.
