U.S. Prosecutors: No Bond for Buju

By: - March 6th, 2011

Buju Banton a.k.a. Mark Myrie

The U.S. Government filed its response to Buju Banton’s motion for bond following his conviction last week in his high-profile narcotics trial. Assistant United States Attorney James Preston, Jr. argued that Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was not entitled to the order Banton sought releasing him from custodial confinement during the pendency of his appeal.
According to Preston’s motion, Banton’s attorney. David Markus, ignored “the statutory mandates which set for the standards by which…bond pending sentence is to be determined.”
According to Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 3143(a)(2), a person who has been found guilty of the offense for which Banton was convicted must be detained unless there is there is a “substantial likelihood that a motion for acquittal or new trial will be granted.”
Last week, Banton filed his motion for a new trial, arguing that there was a lack of substantial evidence of conspiracy.

See the U.S. Government’s latest motion here.

Jamaica

Ramnarine Condemns Attack on West Indies Cricket Team

After an attack on the West Indies cricket team in Bangladesh, the West Indian Players Association came out with a strong condemnation. WIPA President and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine said it was “regrettable what transpired in Bangladesh,” according to a statement released by the WIPA. No players were injured in the attack, which involved fans pelting […]

Jamaica

Report: Extradition Crisis Damaged Anti-Drug Efforts

By the Caribbean Journal Staff The latest International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) compiled by the U.S. State Department showed Jamaica continuing to be the largest Caribbean supplier of marijuana to America.  It also made several indictments of public corruption and pointed to the Extradition Crisis as a factor in reduced anti-drug efforts. A series […]

Jamaica

Fire destroys Haitian Village in the Bahamas

The question of increased Haitian immigration is nothing new to the Bahamas — but new problems are beginning to emerge in the so-called “Haitian villages” set up by immigrants. A fire broke out in a shantytown off Fire Trail Road in New Providence, leaving hundreds homeless. Supreintendent Jeffrey Delevaux, director of fire services, said the […]

Golding, in Letter, Holds to Claim That Manatt Did Not Work for Government

 Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in a letter to the Commission of Enquiry investigating the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips extradition scandal, maintained that the Government did not hire the Manatt firm to lobby the White House on behalf of Christopher Coke. The Jamaica Labour Party has offered a waiver for a representative of the firm […]

Jamaica PM May Not Testify

 The man whose testimony may be the most important of any in the Jamaican Commission of Enquiry concerning the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips affair, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, is asking the commission to consider his “obligation to attend to the business of the people of Jamaica and the machinery of Government,” the prime minister said […]

Lightbourne Set to Take Stand

 Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in a letter to the Commission of Enquiry investigating the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips extradition scandal, maintained that the Government did not hire the Manatt firm to lobby the White House on behalf of Christopher Coke. The Jamaica Labour Party has offered a waiver for a representative of the firm […]

Buju Banton's Motion for New Trial: Attorney Argues a Lack of Substantial Evidence of Conspiracy

 We have obtained the motion by Mark Myrie aka Buju Banton filed by attorney David Markus. According to the 18-page motion (attached below), Banton moves for acquittal on several grounds, including Count 3, in which he claims that there was insufficient evidence to establish that a firearm was used during the transaction, , or that Banton […]