Artistes see upside in Buju hung jury

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

It might not have been the result they were hoping for, but associates of singjay Buju Banton still welcomed the mistrial ruling in his drug-possession case in Tampa, Florida, yesterday.

"It's better a mistrial than a guilty verdict. At least he gets a second chance," said Buju's mentor and former manager Donovan Germain.

Judge Tim Moody declared a mistrial after the 12-member jury failed to return a unanimous verdict on whether the 37-year-old reggae star was guilty or not guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

The trial started September 20; a new trial has been set for December.

Buju's lead attorney, David Oscar Markus, will hear today if his client will be granted bail.

Singer Cocoa Tea said the jury deadlock is proof the prosecution's case is weak.

"No matter the date, him still a get wey, 'cause dem have no evidence to support dem accusations," Cocoa Tea told The Gleaner. "Wi jus' have to hope and pray."

Singer Tony Rebel, who along with Buju formed part of Germain's Penthouse Records team in the 1990s, said he was hoping the trial would have ended in a positive result for his colleague.

A case of entrapment

"We wanted a not guilty verdict because, from all indications, this is a case of entrapment," said Rebel. "He should be getting ready to fly home, but December I'm sure everything will be good."

Several members of the reggae fraternity turned out to support Buju, whose real name is Mark Myrie, at the trial. Germain, who has produced most of his hit songs, was in attendance. So too was singer Wayne Wonder, another former Penthouse performer, and Roy 'Gramps' Morgan of roots group Morgan Heritage.

Buju has been incarcerated since last December when he was arrested by federal agents in a Sarasota, Florida car park. They claim Buju, Ian Thomas and James Mack had just negotiated a cocaine deal in a nearby warehouse.

Buju, who is best known for songs like Untold Stories and Driver A, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

Thomas and Mack have pleaded guilty to a similar charge and also face life imprisonment.

The jury was given the case last Thursday following testimony from Buju and Alexander Johnson, the United States government informant who set up the alleged cocaine deal.

They reconvened yesterday after failing to return a verdict last week.