Judge Holds Off On Decision In Buju Appeal

United States District judge James Moody has reserved decision in the application by reggae artiste Buju Banton for a mistrial to be declared.

According to a report from The Tampa Bay Online news network, the judge is to determine whether an admission by a female juror to a Florida-based media house that she researched an aspect of the case violated the rights of Buju, whose real name is Mark Myrie.

Jurors were told during the trial they were not to look at outside information on the case because they were supposed to make their decision based solely on the evidence introduced in court and the legal instructions provided by the judge.

Buju is serving 10 years in federal prison and is likely to receive another five years after an appeals court reinstated a weapons offence dismissed by Moody.