Buju Banton Testifies In His Drug Trial In Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Grammy-winning reggae singer Buju Banton says a U.S. government informant pressured him about a possible drug deal.

The Jamaican star testified at his drug trial Wednesday that the informant called him constantly after they met on a trans-Atlantic flight in July 2009 and insisted that they meet to set up a cocaine buy.

Banton says he's ashamed for talking as much as he did about drugs with the informant. But he claims he never intended to deal in cocaine.

Banton is on trial on several cocaine charges for the second time in Tampa federal court. The jury deadlocked in his first trial. If convicted, Banton faces up to life in prison.

Two other Jamaican musicians, Stephen Marley and Gramps Morgan, testified on Banton's behalf Wednesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Attorneys for the U.S. government have finished presenting their case against Grammy-winning reggae singer Buju Banton.

Prosecutors questioned a confidential informant, a police officer and an evidence analyst in Tampa federal court Wednesday. The informant has testified that he chatted with Banton about the cocaine trade over drinks on a Madrid-to-Miami flight in 2009.

This is Banton's second trial on several cocaine charges. The first trial ended in September in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked. If convicted, the Jamaican star faces life in prison.

Defense attorney David Markus says there's no evidence to link Banton to any alleged cocaine deal. He began calling witnesses Wednesday afternoon.

Banton is expected to testify.