Buju says he’s nervous, scared

Stephen Marley says artiste is no drug dealer

By PAUL HENRY, Observer staff reporter, [email protected]

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

TAMPA, Florida — Reggae star Buju Banton denied being a drug dealer when he took the stand during his drug trial in the Gibbons US Court here this afternoon.

Banton said he was “talking crap” during the conversation with Alexander Johnson, the prosecution’s main witness, on a flight they shared from Madrid to Miami. He said the incident has caused him and his family indescribable pain.

Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was called to the stand about 2:45 pm Florida time by his attorney David Oscar Markus.

“I was just talking crap. I’m not a drug dealer,” Banton admitted.

He said that he did not want to be outtalked by Johnson, and said Johnson seemed to be a nice person who he liked hanging out with.

Banton admitted also that he had made a false move by sampling cocaine in a warehouse in Tampa. He said he was unaware that he was going to see cocaine as Johnson told him that he was going to inspect a boat.

He said he was fascinated with boats and was very surprised when he saw cocaine.

Banton apologised profusely and when asked by his attorney how he felt, the artiste said, “I am nervous and scared and I have been waiting for 10 months…” before he was interrupted by lead prosecutor Jim Preston who objected to the line of questioning.

Presiding judge Jim Moody sustained the objection.

Under cross examination, Preston, who asked Banton if he had thanked Johnson for making him [Buju] himself again, Banton said, “I would not risk my career which I have been working to build for 20 years for five kilos of cocaine.”

Banton said he was thanking Johnson who he thought could hook him up with a record deal and not a cocaine deal, as his record deal with his former company Tommy Boy Records had expired in 2009.

Meanwhile, Stephen Marley, son of Reggae king Bob Marley, also testified on Banton’s behalf, saying he has known him for over 10 years and never knew him to be a drug dealer.

Banton was arrested at his home at Tamarac, South Florida hours after his former co-accused Ian Thomas and James Mack, were arrested during an alleged drug bust in an undercover operation at a warehouse in Sarasota, Florida in December last year.

All three were charged with conspiracy to possess more than five kilogrammes of cocaine with intent to distribute, while Mack was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offence.

The drug charge carries a minimum sentence of 20 years to life in addition to a fine of up to US$4 million, while the firearm charge carries a sentence of five years to life and a fine of up to US$250,000.

Both Mack and Thomas, in their plea deals, have agreed to give evidence to assist the US Government in building a case against Banton, in exchange for lesser sentences.

The trial continues tomorrow.

Related stories:

Buju defence witness refuses to testify

By PAUL HENRY, Observer staff reporter, [email protected]

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

TAMPA, Florida — The defence in the Buju Banton trial suffered a minor setback this morning when a possible witness pleaded the Fifth Amendment, deciding not to testify on behalf of the Jamaican singer.

The defence had requested that James Mack, Buju’s former co-accused, give evidence for him, but Mack, fearful that he might jeopardise his chances of getting a lighter sentence, opted not to.

American law allows a witness to refuse to testify under oath on the ground that the answers could be used as evidence by prosecutors seeking to convict the witness for a criminal offence

Mack was arrested in December 2009 the same day that Buju, whose given name is Mark Myrie, was arrested and slapped with cocaine charges.

He recently copped a plead deal for a lighter sentence. Also arrested along with Mack in a sting operation was Ian Thomas, who also copped a plea deal. Both men will be sentenced in November.

Reacting to the development, Buju’s lawyer David Markus expressed some disappointment as he spoke with the Observer.

“He would have helped,” Markus said.

Meanwhile, Markus continued his grilling of Alexander Johnson, the prosecution’s main witness.

Markus, with his line of questioning painted a picture of a man who was in financial debt and was pushing to entrap Buju because of the money he stood to earn from the case, if the entertainer was arrested.

The court was told that Johnson was behind on his credit card bills, mortgage payment and owed the US government over $100,000 in taxes.

Markus pointed out from transcripts of Johnson’s recorded conversations with Buju, that he was the one constantly bringing up talks of drugs and that the entertainer was not interested.

Johnson also said that he did not inform Buju that he was going to look at drugs on December 8 when the entertainer was caught on tape tasting the cocaine. He said the artiste was under the impression that he was going to see a sailboat he (Johnson) owned.

Buju was arrested at his home at Tamarac, South Florida hours after his former co-accused Thomas and Mack, were arrested during an alleged drug bust in an undercover operation at a warehouse in Sarasota, Florida in December last year.

All three were charged with conspiracy to possess more than five kilogrammes of cocaine with intent to distribute, while Mack was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offence.

The drug charge carries a minimum sentence of 20 years to life in addition to a fine of up to US$4 million, while the firearm charge carries a sentence of five years to life and a fine of up to US$250,000.

Both Mack and Thomas, in their plea deals, have agreed to give evidence to assist the US Government in building a case against Banton, in exchange for lesser sentences.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/tillshilohbujubanton/

TAMPA — Stephen Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, took the stand as a character witness for Buju Banton on Wednesday, calling the acclaimed singer “the voice of the people” who never talked about drugs.

Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, is on trial in federal court in Tampa on drug conspiracy charges. Both grew up in Jamaica and have collaborated on music. Marley said he has known Banton for 20 years.

Defense attorney David Markus asked Marley whether he ever heard Banton discuss drugs.

“No, no,” Marley said. “Never.”

Marley called Banton “the voice of Jamaica,” noting that his music is ingrained in the nation’s culture.

“That sums it up,” he said. “What Banton means to us. He is the voice of the people.”

Banton has earned four Grammy nominations since his debut album in 1992. He is considered one of reggae’s elite stars, with his 1995 album Til Shiloe garnering a spot among Rolling Stone’s “Essential Recordings of the ’90s.”

Prosecutors say they have video and audio of the musician discussing the ins and outs of drug smuggling with an informer and asking the informer to help him in other illegal endeavors.

Banton’s trial started Monday after months of delays. The informer, Alexander Johnson, is expected to testify. Prosecutors said they also have video of Banton tasting cocaine during a drug deal.

Markus said Banton plans to testify

A Jamaican dancehall star with a history of run-ins with the law has been arrested again.

Police Superintendent Altermoth Campbell says a badly bruised woman alleged that Bounty Killer beat her Saturday night at his apartment.

The rapper’s lawyer did not immediately return a call for comment Sunday.
Known offstage as Rodney Price, Bounty Killer was already facing charges of firearm possession, marijuana possession and unlawful wounding and assault.

He is best known for the album “My Xperience” and for his collaboration on the song “Hey Baby” with U.S. pop band No Doubt.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=11675048
http://perezhilton.com/2010-09-20-bounty_killer_arrested_beating_woman_with_hammer

Buju never invested in drugs says informant

Prosecution plays video tape showing artiste tasting cocaine

BY PAUL HENRY Observer reporter [email protected]

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

TAMPA, Florida — Alexander Johnson, the United States informant assisting prosecutors to seal a conviction against Reggae artiste, this afternoon testified that Buju Banton never entered into any drug deal with him.

Johnson, a Colombian national who had served three years for a drug offense, made the revelation under cross-examination from Banton’s attorney David Markus.

Buju Banton… damning recordings played during trial today
Buju Banton… damning recordings played during trial today 1/1

He said Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, never sold or bought drugs and had never wired any money to him to invest in the illicit trade.

Johnson also admitted that Banton had never purchased any cocaine in Panama or Colombia and that their dealings never went beyond talk.

The informant did not readily answer when Markus asked if Myrie had stopped taking his calls in December last year.

“Didn’t Ian Thomas tell you that he (Myrie) does not want to do anything man? Talk to me. He said that’s not him, he is about music, he eats and sleeps the music?” Markus asked to which Johnson replied yes.

Johnson also told the court that he had no knowledge that Myrie had financed the deal that went sour in the police controlled warehouse in Saratoga, Florida when Myrie’s co-defendants, Ian Thomas and James Mack were arrested attempting to purchase cocaine from Drug Enforcement agents.

Earlier the prosecution played a video recording of Myrie tasting the contraband in December last year. The footage showed the artiste, Thomas and an undercover cop at a location in Sarasota. A kilogramme of the drug was produced by the cop and Thomas used a knife to cut it open and Myrie used his finger to wipe the knife and sampled the cocaine.

Thomas described the drug as ‘fish scale’ a term Johnson explained to mean high quality. While the footage was being showed some of Banton’s fans appeared disappointed while others watched with keen interest.

Johnson also testified that during a meeting Thomas informed him that he had a contact in Georgia with drug connections and that he (Thomas) would be the person who would be doing business.

Markus is expected to continue cross-examining Johnson when the trial resumes tomorrow morning.

This conversation was about Thalia and Bishop her baby father. Them seem happy so mi nuh undastand da conversation ya. Im fact them jus celebrate the baby first birthday. Groupie roll out da pawty deh, jus check Bishop FB page. Sally Ann a breed fe Mark who par wid Daseca dem. Congrats.
Patrece BrownLatoya Williams: dwl Latoya …who did u hear disownin his babymother to me on Sat on the bottle party ? who did u have to come draw weh from me cuz it did start look bad di way him a beg ??? n now him poor insecure babymodda have the nerve to a bbm me bout i must lef her man ??? dwfl !! no , u as my witnes cuz u were there to hear with ur own ears ….me want her man Latti ? tell me di truth ??? lmao…i weak
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Latoya Williams
Omg please tell mi you’re joking. Omg, afta him a tell Yuh how him bax her in her face because of you and a talk bout him single and a vex how you saw him at some party an act like you didn’t see him an a draw mi in a concersation as re…f for my opinion. Some girl really nuh ave nothing fi do wit dem time?
Leave ma fren alone, she really don’t want Yuh wash up pan beach shore bruck pocket man who live wid him madda, baby and you. Sorry him not in her league. Yuh cudda brite! You girl whatever your name is, Use your time wisely plan a way out or continue to be a looser like him. See More
April 28 at 5:10pm · LikeUnlike

Patrece Brown
‎”wash up pan beach shore bruck pocket man who live wid him madda, baby and you”…..DEAD ! dat one connec…..mi weak ! lol

thats right ma fren…she need to buy herself n him a clue…lol…ssssoooo funny….i should come jamaica more ofte…n ! See More
April 28 at 5:19pm · LikeUnlike

Latoya Williams Lmao….. I second that you need to visit more often, just imagine how many sleepless nights and nightmare some people ago have. Lol.
April 28 at 5:45pm · LikeUnlike

Patrece Brown lol…a now she a go get some box up n kick down…lol…thats what he just said in his email to me thalia if ur readin….dwl
April 28 at 7:16pm · LikeUnlike

Latoya Williams Lol… Dwl… Lmao… I’m in public and people looking at me. Lord help her soul. This is quite entertaining. Lol keep me updated.
April 28 at 7:22pm · Like