JAMAICAN SUPERSTAR BUJU'S RETRIAL SET FOR DECEMBER

Jamaican reggae artiste Buju Banton born Mark Myrie, is to face a retrial on drug charges in Florida in December.

Judge Tim Moody made the ruling this afternoon, hours after the 12-memeber jury which was hearing the case ended their third day of deliberation saying they could not reach a verdict.

The judge then declared a mistrial.

The judge is to decide tomorrow whether Buju is to be granted bail.

This morning, the foreman of the twelve-member jury indicated that jurors were split on whether to convict or free Buju on drug charges.

The foreman had sent a note to US District Judge James Moody.

Under US law all the members of the jury must be in agreement for a verdict to be reached in a drug trial.

However, this morning the jury foreman reported that six jurors had found the Jamaican reggae star guilty with the other six saying he was not guilty.

Judge Moody then instructed the jurors to continue their deliberations telling them to take as much time as they wanted.

The judge also said none of the jurors should surrender their conscience decision.

However, the jurors later returned to the judge still without a consensus.

The judge then declared a mistrial and ordered that the matter be set for re-trail sometime in December.

Come tomorrow, the judge is to hear a bail application filed by Buju’s lawyer David Markus.

Buju has been held in jail since December last year when he was arrested on drug and firearm charges.

SOURCE: go-jamaica.com

'DUDUS' BEING HELD IN SECURE FACILITY, SAYS JAMAICAN POLICE

• Miller was transporting him to US embassy

Christopher 'Dudus' Coke is now being held in a secure facility according to the police.

Coke was held earlier this afternoon in a police spot check at Ferry on Mandela Highway, in St. Catherine. The Reverend Al Miller was accompanying him. He was then transferred to a secure facility.

Coke is wanted in the US on drug and gunrunning charges.

In a press briefing being held at the Commissioner's Office on Old Hope Road, Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington said that they are looking forward to starting legal proceedings within the next 48 hours.


Ellington again appealed to Al. Miller to turn himself in to the police. He told the press briefing that no member of the police high command was aware of Miller's plan to turn in Coke without going through the legal process.

Ellington said that the police are investigating as to why Miller was let go and they had several questions to ask him.

He said that Coke was in good condition.

Ellington also appealed to members of the public to remain calm.

In the meantime the Police High Command has again raised the threat level from criminal violence against their members and assets to extremely high. This means there is anticipation of imminent violent attacks on members as well as physical assets.

This upgrading of the threat level is based on intelligence suggesting that detained and displaced criminals as well as other criminal criminals are planning attacks on Security Forces personnel and assets.

The police is urging all members to take seriously this threat assessment and raise their level of awareness and anticipation on and off duty.

Source: go-jamaica.com

Three members of Jamaica Defence Force killed

Three members of the Jamaica Defense Force were reportedly shot and killed in West Kingston a short while ago.

The soldiers were shot about an hour after the security forces launched their operation.

A short while ago, a resident of Tivoli Gardens called our Power 106 newsroom
apparently crying and appealing to the Prime Minister Bruce Golding for help

UNITED STATES EMBASSY: NO DUDUS TALKS

The United States Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica says there is no meeting planned for today with attorneys for Tivoli Gardens strongman, Christopher "Dudus" Coke.

This according to Acting Public Affairs officer at the United States Embassy in Kingston Rebecca Parke in response to questions from the Gleaner/Power 106 Newsroom.

"I can confirm at this time that no meeting has taken place with Mr. Foote or with attorneys that is today, this morning as of this time eleven, 11:45", said Rebecca Parke

She however did confirm that there was a meeting before.

"There was a meeting last night but nothing has occured this morning". said Rebecca Parke

Yesterday, Coke’s attorney, Don Foote had revealed that a meeting was scheduled for 10 o’clock this morning with US Charge d’affairs, Isaiah Parnell.