TAMPA, Florida (Jamaica Observer) — The 13-member panel of jurors were still undecided on the fate of Reggae singer Buju Banton after more than four hours of deliberation yesterday and will reconvene today at 9:30 am.
Banton has been languishing in the Pinellas County jail since December 10 last year when Federal agents removed him from his home in Tamarac, Florida.
Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was on trial on a charge of conspiracy with intent to distribute five kilogrammes of cocaine.
After hearing closing arguments, the jury retired at 12:40 pm.
Myrie’s attorney David Oscar Markus, in his final argument, told the jurors that his client was innocent and asked them to return a not guilty verdict.
“Ladies and gentlemen, he is not guilty. Mr Myrie is not a drug dealer. Please, please find him not guilty. Not because he was at the warehouse when the drugs were being inspected means he is guilty of the conspiracy charge against him,” Markus said.
Markus argued that the government could not prove its case against Myrie and pointed to the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Daniel McCeaffrey’s testimony that despite investigating the artiste for a year he could find no evidence against him. Markus also painted US government informant Alexander Johnson as a “master manipulator and con man.
“To him this was a pay day. This guy was looking for his jackpot. This is how he makes a living.“
Lead prosecutor Jim Preston countered Markus’ claims by telling the jurors that Myrie was “neck deep” in the conspiracy to distribute cocaine and said it was his fault that his co-defendants James Mack and Ian Thomas were arrested. Preston said Thomas was brought into the deal by Myrie.
During his address to the jury, Preston walked over to Myrie and pointed at him for emphasis.
Thomas was expected to testify this morning but was not called to the witness stand by Markus.
“We felt we had it without him,” Markus told the Observer.
Presiding Judge Jim Moody in his summation to the jury, instructed them that not because Banton was on the spot when the contraband was being inspected meant he was guilty of conspiracy. He instructed them to carefully weigh the evidence of a convicted person or a government informant because they may have a motive to give false statements.
