Judge James Moody on Wednesday 9th February dismissed a motion by Banton’s attorneys seeking to have the new indictment thrown out.
The Jamaica Observer reported that attorney David Oscar Markus said, “We are going to trial on Monday on the new charges. That’s okay. We are ready.”
Banton was arrested in December 2009, as part of a sting operation following the arrests of two men, Ian Thomas and James Mack, in Florida and was charged with drugs and weapons offences. The men, who pleaded guilty to the charges last year, are expected to testify during Banton’s second trial. They did not participate in the first trial.
The second trial was to have started last December, but was postponed so Banton, who is free on US$250,000 bail and is subject to house arrest, could spend time with his family.
The first hearing ended in a mistrial.
The two additional charges were brought after the mistrial and a motion to quash the new charges was denied.
(Source – caribbeannewsnow)