The Buju Banton case could well see fresh twists, if the information revealed last Thursday by the Florida paper Broward Palm Beach New Times is to be believed.
According to Chris Sweeney, who wrote the article that appeared in the columns of the Broward, the overzealous initiative of Terri Wright, a juror at Buju Banton's trial and a law enthusiast, could interfere with the course of the Jamaican star's trial.
Terri Wright, who works in insurance and lives in Tampa, told the Florida paper that she had carried out her own research to form her own opinion on the ongoing case, even before deliberations.
"I get in the car, I just jot down a few notes on paper so I remember, I go home and I do research, Wright said. They give us instructions not to look for information and to form an opinion. I tried to follow those instructions as much as I could. I don't think what I found changed what I thought."
Terri Wright even cited to the Broward the "Pinkerton rule", a rule that federal prosecutors used to charge the singer with firearm possession, even though he had no connection with the weapon.
According to the Broward, Terri Wright's approach could constitute a violation of the instructions given to the jury, and consequently lead to the trial being annulled.
"If she did indeed carry out research relating to the ongoing trial, it is a violation of court orders", reacted Chokwe Lumumba, Buju Banton's new lawyer. "This inappropriate behaviour can certainly be grounds for a new trial. If that is the case, we will indeed pursue it."
The same tune from David Oscar Markus, Buju's previous lawyer in this trial: "Jurors receive specific instructions not to carry out their own research, and for a lot of good reasons. If they do, there is a strong likelihood that a new trial will take place. A juror's research can have an impact on the final verdict, so this could change things for Buju."
Amy Filjones, spokesperson for the office of the United States Attorney, did not wish to comment on these facts, which seem to shed new light on the Buju Banton case.
For their part, the fans of Gargamel, who like the singer proclaim his innocence, have launched a support petition, which they hope to send to the White House with at least 50,000 signatures.
Buju Banton, 39, is currently serving a 10-year sentence at the federal penitentiary in Tampa for drug trafficking. He is also due to appear in federal court on 30 October, a hearing at the end of which Gargamel could see his sentence lengthened by 5 years for illegal possession of a firearm.