Convicted reggae superstar Mark 'Buju Banton' Myrie has retained the services of a new attorney, THE STAR has learnt.

Buju, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison, is to be represented by attorney-at-law Chokwe Lumumba, this according to the American newspaper New Times.

It was reported that the entertainer was found guilty of two drug-related charges and a gun charge last year.

However, the trial judge dismissed the gun charge after the jury delivered its verdict.

An appeal was later filed against the conviction but in June, the Appeal Court rejected all the claims and sided with prosecutors.

The Appeal Court also agreed with the jury's decision to find Buju guilty on the firearm charge. This led prosecutors to file an appeal to have the charge reinstated.

Following that, Buju filed for a new trial, but in August a Florida court denied his request.

Attorney-at law David Oscar Markus represented Buju through the two high-profile trials as well as an unsuccessful bid for appeal.

"I will always consider Buju my friend and my brother and I think of him everyday ... It pains my heart that he is in prison. I truly hope that he gets some relief," Markus is reported to have said.

But his new lawyer, Lumumba, is now promising to uncover evidence that might have been missed on previous occasions.

In an interview with THE STAR, he noted that Buju's firearm charge was handled "very mysteriously".

Lumumba added: "The district court threw it out and appears to have good reason to throw it out from the decision I have read. And then the Appeal Court put it back in on some very flimsy grounds, it appears to me."

Lumumba said he has already read transcripts of the trial and made it clear he intends to go over the case with a fine-tooth comb.

"I gotta see what the witnesses said. I gotta see if there was any evidence that should have been offered that wasn't offered, if there is any evidence the defence tried to get in and were denied an opportunity to get in or if there was any evidence that was admitted illegally," he explained, noting that he plans to meet with Buju in 14 days.

"That may suggest automatically that it may be wise to make an appeal to the United States Supreme Court at least on that count (the gun charge), but I got to look at the rest of it," he added.

- P.G.