Buju fires his lawyer

Convicted reggae super star Buju Banton has fired his attorney David Oscar Markus.

American newspaper Broward Palm Beach New Times says Buju whose real name is Mark Myrie has now hired Chokwe Lumumba to continue his legal fight.

Buju is now preparing to appeal federal drug charges on which he was convicted by a Tampa jury last year.

At the time of the conviction, the trial judge threw out the gun charge and sentenced Buju to 10 years in prison.

Since then, a higher court has ruled that the Judge was wrong to have thrown out the gun conviction and has ruled that the matter should either be retried or Buju brought back to court to be sentenced on the firearm charge.

"I will always consider Buju my friend and my brother and I think of him every day," Markus is reported to have said.

"It pains me that he is in prison. I truly hope that he gets some relief."

editorial@gleanerjm.com