Buju's trial postponed for another week

THE trial involving Jamaican Reggae artiste, Buju Banton, has been postponed for another week.

The trial was set to begin in a Tampa, Florida court next Monday but according to Banton's attorney, David Markus, that date was no longer suitable.

This is the second postponement of the trial which was originally set to begin in March.

Buju Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, is accused of intent to distribute five or more kilogrammes of cocaine at Sarasota in Tampa.

He was arrested at his Tamarac home in South Florida by Federal agents in December last year and has been in custody ever since.

The agents claim to have footage showing the artist tasting cocaine in a Federally controlled warehouse.

Last month a US judge refused a request from Markus that Banton be transferred to another facility on the basis that he had lost 40 pounds and was being denied vegetarian meals.

The magistrate said prison records showed that the artist had gained 11 pounds since his detention and that he had purchased supplies of chicken, tuna and mackerel at the prison commissary.

Ninja Man remanded

DANCEHALL entertainer Ninja Man, who along with his son and two other men are charged with murder, was remanded when he appeared in the Supreme Court today.

Ninja Man, whose real name is Desmond Ballentine, along with his son Janeil, Dennis Clayton and Seymour Samuels, have been jointly charged with the murder of Robert Johnson, who was shot and killed in Tower Hill, St Andrew last year.

Police alleged that the four, who were travelling in a grey motor car, drove up to Johnson’s home at Marl Road and fired several shots hitting Johnson.

Ninja Man, who is being represented by attorney Norma Linton, appeared in court with his face bushy and his hair unkempt.

No application was made for bail by his attorney and the case is set to continue on April 23.

Janeil Ballentine and Clayton were also remanded in custody while Samuels had his bail extended.

Ninja Man turned himself in to the police, but his son was held weeks later. He was allegedly found hiding in a house in deep rural Jamaica.

Bounty Killer refused bail

DANCEHALL DJ Bounty Killer was refused bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court this morning.

Bounty Killer, whose real name is Rodney Pryce, was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and threatening a complainant on Monday.

He is also facing charges of illegal possession of a firearm and unlawful wounding after an altercation with an off-duty cop in New Kingston in 2007.

The artist was refused bail by Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey on the grounds that it he committed the new offenses while out on bail.

Police say the 38-year-old DJ was arrested at his East Avenue home early Monday morning after a woman complained that he physically attacked her after she informed him that their three-year relationship was over.

While being processed at the Constant Spring Police Station, Pryce reportedly called the complainant and threatened her life in the presence of the police.

A police investigator told the court that associates of the DJ had been pressuring the woman to drop the charges against him.

Pryce is one of several artists whose visas were revoked by the United States embassy last week.

He is expected back in court on April 14.

Dem tek way mi visa but mi still have mi life — says Beenie Man in new song

King of the Dancehall, Beenie Man, without missing a beat, has launched a lyrical attack on the United States Embassy, as he grapples with the reality of the recent revocation of both his US work permit and his visitor's visa.

"Dem tek weh mi visa but mi still have mi life," goes the chorus of the song in which Beenie Man mentions that he isn't "frighten fi foreign" and even gives props to Gully God Mavado, by mentioning his name and a line from that deejay's current hit, Starlight. 

Interestingly, Beenie Man also mentions that he has his girl "in foreign" and states that "all mi haffi do now is divorce mi wife".

In the song, which has been receiving power play on one particular radio station, but which has not yet been officially released Beenie ponders the reason why his visa was cancelled and seeks to reassure himself, and his fans, that his visa will soon be returned, as he intends to "pressure" the case.

It was reported last week that top dancehall deejays Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Aidonia, along with veteran selector, Ricky Trooper, had their visas revoked by the US Embassy.

Bounty Killer Arrested again

The troubles facing popular dancehall star Bounty Killer are mounting. Less than one week after the United States Embassy in St Andrew indicated that he was among five Jamaican entertainers to have their visas revoked, the 38-year-old has found himself in more trouble with the law.
Bounty, whose correct name is Rodney Pryce, was arrested at his East Avenue, Kingston 10, house yesterday morning and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.
It is alleged that on March 25, Pryce’s female companion decided to end their three-year relationship. He reportedly refused, and attacked her.
A report was made to the police and, following investigations, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Investigators say that when Pryce was being processed at the Constant Spring Police Station yesterday morning – in keeping with standard police operating procedure – he was allowed to make a telephone call.
According to the police, Pryce used that opportunity to call the complainant and threaten her life in the presence of the police.
He was subsequently refused station bail and booked to appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
This will not be Pryce’s first time appearing in court on accusations of abusing a woman.
In 2009, the entertainer faced the same Resident Magistrate’s Court to answer to charges of assault occasioning bodily harm on a woman who was said to be pregnant.
Severly beaten
At that time, it was alleged that Pryce was partying at a popular nightclub in New Kingston when he saw the complainant and said, “Wha yuh a do yah!” He then allegedly shoved her in the chest and punched her in the face and all over her body.
It was further alleged that his friends joined in the attack before the woman was rescued by patrons.
That charge was dropped after the complainant told the court she did not wish to proceed.
Pryce is also now before the Gun Court on a charge of unlawful wounding and illegal possession of a firearm following a September 2007 altercation with an off-duty policeman in New Kingston.
He is also facing a judge in the Traffic Court on several counts of reckless driving and other traffic violations, including refusing to submit to a breathalyser test.
The star, who has been close to the top of the local dancehall industry for more than two decades, has also faced drug charges as well as charges of using profanity onstage.

Top entertainers visas revoked

(Jamaica Gleaner) – The visas of five of Jamaica’s top entertainers have been revoked.
According to information from the Fraud Prevention Arm of the United States Embassy in Kingston, the visas of Bounty Killer, Mavado, Beenie Man, Adonia and selector Ricky Trooper are now being cancelled.
A document obtained through our sources advised airlines not to allow any of the entertainers on flights bound for the United States.
The cancellations follow that of businessman Wayne Chen who recently found out his visa had been revoked while he was about to board a flight to America.
University law professor David Rowe had predicted that there would have been visa cancellations as backlash for the government’s denial of the extradition request for West Kingston strongman, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.