US responds to Buju Banton’s appeal

[Skeng DX]

MIAMI, USA (AP) — The US government says plenty of evidence supports a federal jury’s conviction of Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton on cocaine conspiracy and trafficking charges.
Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, is appealing the February 2011 conviction. Defence attorney David O Markus says his client was relentlessly pursued by a government informant, resulting in improper entrapment.
Federal prosecutors filed their response Friday in Atlanta’s federal appeals court.
Prosecutors say Banton’s words and actions, in recorded conversations and a videotaped meeting in a Florida warehouse where Banton tasted some cocaine, revealed the singer “eagerly brokered” a drug deal between a friend and undercover government agents.
Banton is serving a 10-year prison sentence.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1mHEemYPz

[Baddaz]

this only a response... i dont think it is a denial of appeal... i suspect this isn't the end...

[Baddaz]

buju lawyer should still be able to file a response to the govt response... maybe a trained lawyer can explain to us... pls and tonks... i still believe this is not the end...

[Rockman]

The first thing Buju should do is hire a different lawyer for the appeal, as Markus will likely not fault his handling of the case.
The Buju conviction has left a bitter taste in my mouth;the decision to participate in a drug transaction probably came from that viewing that Buju and company were duped in to attending, this is where Mac and Ian saw drugs they could buy, and later tried....
You have the right to chnage your mind, and that makes you not guilty.

[Baddaz]

hail up rocky... long time mi nuh si yuh pon de forum... buju case really touch mi nerve... man get incited fi commit crime and people nuh si nutten wrong wid de scenario...

[Rockman]

Hail up baddaz!

[Time]

hail up rocky... long time mi nuh si yuh pon de forum... buju case really touch mi nerve... man get incited fi commit crime and people nuh si nutten wrong wid de scenario...

It's entrapment but actions of the Feds hints that they may have other information and wanted to take him off the streets.

[Hortical]

Sure it was entrapment and you know the jury never buy it. When him decide fi taste the coke, it dun.

[HL]

I think it's simple as that.

Irks me how these 'talented' guys end up spending a good chunk of their money on legal fees....

My mother used to admonish " show me your company...and i'll tell you who you are.."

[Islandman]

I get that impression as well.

Its hard to believe that they just picked him randomly on an airplane and got him to talk about all his diamond smuggling and illegal activities. That would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

I still do not know how anybody with an ounce of sense could meet someone for the first time in an airport and start telling them all that Buju did. When me inna airport me nuh even like talk to people me know to rhatid, and me nuh involve inna nutten illegal.

[MdmeX]

When me inna airport me nuh even like talk to people me know to rhatid, and me nuh involve inna nutten illegal.

Yuh right about that. I don't even want them sitting near me.