Positive twist in the mistrial case for embattled reggae star Buju Banton

by DRW
(Jamaica)

Buju Banton

Embattled Reggae megastar, Buju Banton may be gaining steam in his ongoing fight to overturn a ten year sentence on drug charges as his case for a mistrial took a positive twist on Friday.

U.S. District Judge, James Moody ordered marshals to seize computers belonging to Terri Wright, a juror in Buju’s February 2011 drug trial who’s accused of misconduct in the matter. Buju’s legal team successfully filed a motion requesting this seizure take place in order to prove that Wright violated federal court laws by researching aspects of the Reggae artiste’s court case.

If evidence is found to back up this claim by Grammy winning entertainer’s legal team, it could trigger a mistrial in the matter.

Additionally, Judge Moody told lawyers during a conference call on Wednesday that he plans to subpoena more jurors and conduct another hearing to explore whether or not Wright violated court orders.

Wright admitted to the New Times Broward during an interview in the fall that she looked up aspects of Buju’s case. However, she maintains that research had no bearing on her decision when the verdict was eventually read on February 22, 2011.

Nevertheless, Buju’s lawyer, Chokwe Lumumba insists his team has a tape proving Wright violated court protocol while claiming another juror recalled to him that fellow jurors discussed the alleged misconduct that took place.

Buju Banton is not only serving his ten year conviction on drug charges, he awaits a ruling regarding a gun charge which was reinstated following a failed appeal in July. He faces a five year maximum sentence on the drug charge. However, the re-sentencing hearing originally sentenced for October 30 of last year was postponed due to the ongoing investigations of possible juror misconduct.

source:examiner.com
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