TAMPA, Florida – The defence in the Buju Banton trial suffered a setback yesterday when a possible witness pleaded the Fifth Amendment, deciding not to testify on behalf of the Jamaican singer.
The defence had requested that James Mack, Buju’s former co-accused, give evidence for him, but Mack, fearful that he might jeopardise his chances of getting a lighter sentence, opted not to.
Mack was arrested in December 2009 the same day that Buju, whose given name is Mark Myrie, was arrested and slapped with cocaine charges.
He recently accepted a plea deal for a lighter sentence.
Reacting to the development, Buju’s lawyer David Markus expressed some disappointment as he spoke with the Observer.
“He would have helped,” Markus said. (Jamaica Observer)
