Terri Wright, one of the jurors who convicted reggae superstar Buju Banton of drug charges denied in court yesterday that she improperly researched the case during Buju’s trial. The denial runs in direct contradiction to an interview conducted with the Miami New Times by reporter Chris Sweeney.
During Buju’s trial, jurors were instructed by the judge to not reference any external information regarding the case. The judge outlined that any such referencing or research of outside information could be construed as misconduct and could lead to a possible mistrial. This is precisely what Chokwe Lumumba, Buju’s attorney is alleging and he is seeking a mistrial. If the judge agrees, this would be Buju Banton’s second mistrial and third trial. Buju’s first trial ended with jurors deadlocked.
During the hearing the reporter Chris Sweeney of the Miami New Times testified that Wright also told him that she had previously served as a juror in seven cases prior to Banton’s. During the trial, however, Wright admitted to serving on only one civil trial. Buju’s former attorney, David Oscar Markus submitted an affidavit contending he would not have selected Wright had he known this information.
Additionally, despite the recorded interview, Terri Wright denies conducting the research during the trial and contends that her research was done AFTER the trial and jury decision. Her research was centered around the “Pinkerton Rule” which played a large part in the jury’s deliberations. (The Pinkerton Rule involves liability among conspirators for the actions of other conspirators.)
Quite frankly, I don’t believe Terri Wright!! Why would you conduct research AFTER you had made a decision convicting the defendant? If you had such serious confusion about the issues at hand then you should have decided NOT GUILTY. If you were uncertain, it makes sense that the research was done during the trial to aid in making the decision not after just as reported in the Miami New Times.
Buju’s defense attorney Chokwe Lumumba requested that he be allowed to interview the jurors and Judge Moody granted this but only allowed three jurors to be interviewed. Two of the jurors denied having heard any discussions about outside research however, one juror, Janice Benoit recalled a discussion:
“I do recall one juror saying that she had done research on, I believe, the Pinkerton law.”
Benoit said that juror was a white female who shared her information with two male jurors, but Benoit didn’t hear what was said. Wright is black. Benoit said she didn’t hear any black jurors discussing outside research and either way her decision was not impacted by any of this.
Buju’s defense team contends that Buju would have been acquitted had it not been for this outside research coming into play. U.S. District Judge James Moody reserved decision Thursday on the defense motion.
Buju Banton, born Mark Myrie, remains behind bars serving 10 years in federal prison and could get another five years after an appeals court reinstated a weapons offense dismissed by Moody.
FREE BUJU!!!!!!!
