International Reggae Star Buju Banton, real name Mark Anthony Myrie, will continue his fight for freedom with a new lawyer.
Buju’s long time legal representative David Oscar Markus, who has been representing Buju since his arrest in December 2009, has been fired by the Grammy-winning singer.
The move was confirmed this past Tuesday by Markus himself.
“I will always consider Buju my friend and my brother and I think of him every day,” Markus wrote in an email to the Broward Palm Beach Times. “It pains me that he is in prison. I truly hope that he gets some relief.”
Buju Banton will now be represented by Mississippi-based lawyer and human rights activist, Chokwe Lumamba.
Lumamba remains renowned for representing rap superstar, Tupac Shakur as well as Black Panther member, and legendary rebel & freedom fighter Assata Shakur , Tupac’s aunt.
Buju Banton’s shift in legal representation comes just after few weeks his request for a new trial was turned down.
This, after an appeal made on his behalf to overturn a conviction and subsequent 10 year sentence on drug charges was dismissed on a Georgia Circuit Court and it also turned more bitter for Gargamel since now there’s a new gun charge that was originally thrown out by trial judge, James Moody.
Following the rejected trial request, Judge Moody intimated that Buju Banton faces sentencing in his drug case and could be held in custody for an additional five years as a result.
Buju Banton’s sentencing has been scheduled for October 30 in Miami.
