Today (December 16) Grammy Award-winning Reggae/Dancehall star Buju Banton appealed a cocaine trafficking and conspiracy conviction that landed him a 10-year sentence this February.
The Associated Press reports that Banton (born Mark Myrie) and his attorney, David O. Markus are alleging that a government informant “relentlessly pursued” the star, in exchange for $50,000. Additionally, the Gargamel Records artist maintains that there is not conclusive evidence to the conviction, for which he is presently serving.
The Atlanta, Georgia-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to make a decision in 2012.
In his career, Banton worked with Hip Hop acts such as Wyclef Jean and Heavy D & The Boyz.
[December 16]
UPDATE: A judge has denied Buju Banton’s request for a new trial, stating there is no need because of a previous appeals court ruling. In June, Atlanta’s appeals court upheld Banton’s conviction, ruling that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute him. Banton’s attorney filed a motion in July seeking a new trial, a request that Judge James Moody denied yesterday.
This man is completely innocent and he shouldn’t be in jail for shit!
ya mannnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Release the Banton! American artistes get caught with all sorts of drugs and do all sorts of weird shit and they’re given a slap on the wrist……FUCK! If that dumb cunt Paris Hilton was in his shoes she would walk free! If Kim Kardashian jumped out of a fucking Bentley and rubbed her 3 day old unwashed cunt all over some coke on the street she would walk free…..FUCK!
“If Kim Kardashian jumped out of a fucking Bentley and rubbed her 3 day old unwashed cunt all over some coke on the street she would walk free..” HAHAHA!!! This is possibly the funniest shit I have ever seen on a comment thread! EXCELLENT!
Free Buju
free that man….even if he was slanging, niggaz gotta get it
do the crime do the time. stop bitching!
what are you a cop
Free BujU !!
hold ya head Buju
buju banton, alongside rancid! no more misty days!
buju comin’ in wit that rasta rough vocal reggae flow. free him and prosecute the REAL criminals (babylon)!
To make this article relevant to hip hop, DX quickly posts that Buju worked with Wyclef and Heavy D. Good job boys!
Too many black men get locked up – far too easily. You can attribute this to their own ignorance but if you are informed and not biased you know the truth; they are targeted. This is why white criminals go unnoticed until they kill a bunch of people in a movie theater. Even then they are treating with more respect than even a black child by law enforcement.
I say this to say a lot of black folks like to be all buddy-buddy like we all the same. At best that is a fantasy – we are cool as long as certain people can be on top and in charge. To make matters worse there is an endless pursuit to maintain that position of power at ANY cost.
I doubt true justice will ever exist in this country – that’s OK because nothing in this physical reality lasts forever.
Boom bye bye motherfucker! Hope Buju’s ass is loose and stretched from all the dick he’s taking in jail.