HOURS before the guilty verdict social networks and the on the street were hot with speculation and rumour as to the fate of Buju Banton.

Afterwards the talk was of shock at the news, including from followers of the Jamaica Observer on the social networking website Twitter.

"Shocked, I thought he was going to be innocent on 3 of 4," tweeted Richard Gallimore, in reaction to a verdict of guilty on three of four charges at the United States Sam M Gibbons Federal Court in Tampa, Florida.

Meanwhile fans of Reggae mourned the loss one of its biggest stars, the self-titled 'Voice of Jamaica'.

"Buju a di heart a Reggae enu..Buju is not guilty..tell dem gu find di real criminal deem," said fellow artiste 'DiStar'.

For many, however, the verdict was the final act in a conspiracy against the artiste. "He's been framed well good am still not convince he's guilty," said Abigale Bogle.

The artiste was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilogrammes of cocaine, of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offence and using the wires to facilitate a drug-trafficking offence.

However he was found not guilty of attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.