Judge orders search of former juror's hard drive in Buju Banton case

The US federal judge hearing the application for a re-trial for Jamaican entertainer Buju Banton has granted an order for a computer expert to search the hard drive of the former jury foreman at Banton’s drug trial.

The defense has accused juror Terri Wright of conducting improper research during the 2011 trial.

They are contending that her action was a breach of court rules and on that basis Banton should be granted a re-trial.

She was quoted in a newspaper report as saying that she researched areas of the case.

However, Wright has dismissed the allegation saying that the newspaper reporter misunderstood what she said.

The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that in granting the order, US District Judge James S. Moody Jr. said the expert could search the hard drive for 21 key words.

The search terms include Buju, Gun, Guilt and Conspiracy.

The judge also ordered that the expert can also search deleted files.

The order stipulates that the computer expert can examine Wright's hard drive activity from February 14, 2011, to March 8, 2011.

Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie is now serving a 10 year prison term.

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