A second jury will today get to determine the fate of Grammy-award winner and reggae star Buju Banton after four days of testimony in which prosecutors painted him as a drug dealer and the defense countered with claims that it was the singer’s “big talking”, and not any illegal act, that has landed him in trouble.
Judge James Moody is scheduled to give the jury instructions on Friday, following which deliberations will begin on whether Buju is guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense; and using a communication facility to facilitate a drug-trafficking offense.
U.S. prosecutors added two additional charges late last year, after a first trial on two charges ended with a hung jury.
