Buju Banton's Trial Hit With a Delay

TAMPA - A judge has changed the trial date for Grammy-nominated reggae singer Buju Banton.

The trial on drug charges had been scheduled to start April 19, after Banton requested that date. Today, without explanation, U.S. District Judge James Moody changed it to June 21.

"We really want to go to trial and were ready to go on April 19," said David Oscar Markus, who represents Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie.

Markus filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider the change.

"We have been working very hard to be ready for this date," he wrote. "We have potential witnesses flying in from Jamaica who have made their plans. We have made our flight and hotel plans. We have lawyers on the team flying in from Houston and Washington, DC, who have also made their flight and hotel plans…

"Perhaps most importantly, Mr. Myrie is in custody and wants to go to trial as
soon as possible."

Markus said he would consent to have the case transferred to a different judge if Moody has a schedule conflict.

He wrote that he called Assistant U.S. Attorney James Preston, who said he objected to the case being transferred. Markus said he asked why and whether Preston knew why the case had been postponed.

"He responded that he could not say anything," Markus wrote.

Banton is accused, along with two codefendants, of participation in a cocaine deal in Sarasota. Banton claims he was entrapped.