The jury’s deliberations in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial have led to a partial verdict, raising questions about the future of the case.
Jury Reaches Partial Verdict in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Sex-Trafficking Trial
UPDATE, 1:45 PM: The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial has reached a partial verdict, but in an unusual consensus, both the prosecution and the defense are requesting that deliberations continue.
As the second day of deliberations concluded, the jury, composed of eight men and four women, informed Judge Arun Subramanian that they were at an impasse. Similar to the recent Harvey Weinstein retrial, the jurors have reached a decision on four of the five charges against the Bad Boy Records founder, but remain unable to conclude on the extensive racketeering charge.
Previous Developments
PREVIOUSLY, JUNE 30 AM: Sean “Diddy” Combs’ fate is now in the hands of the 12 jurors in New York.
The jury has officially begun deliberations in Combs’ six-week-long sex-trafficking trial.
Arrested in September amidst a wave of civil abuse and assault allegations, Combs faces federal charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. Last week, the Department of Justice adjusted some claims in a bid to “streamline” the case.
This alteration did little to change the case’s overall structure or its potential outcome.
Currently held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center for nine months, Combs, 55, risks spending his life in prison if the jury returns a guilty verdict.
“The evidence consists of the testimony and the exhibits,” Judge Subramanian emphasized to the jurors in his Manhattan courtroom.
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Trial Insights
The judge’s statement alluded to the harrowing accounts of violence and degradation allegedly inflicted by Combs, as recounted under oath by his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, along with other accusers and ex-staffers. Various witnesses, including male escorts and law enforcement personnel, also testified during the trial.
“You are the sole and exclusive arbiters of the facts,” he instructed, urging them to assess each witness’s credibility and the significance of their testimony.
With closing arguments presented by prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York and Combs’ defense team, Judge Subramanian focused on delivering formal jury instructions, which are crucial in establishing the parameters of the trial.
Last week, the importance of these instructions became evident as both parties negotiated what the judge could communicate to the jury.
It took Judge Subramanian over an hour to read the jury instructions. Combs attended the session, supported by a contingent of his children present in the courtroom.
Even before the trial began on May 12, Judge Subramanian expressed his desire to conclude proceedings by the July 4 holiday.
In that regard, he met his deadline, aided by the defense’s brief case, which lasted only about 30 minutes with no witnesses or testimony from Combs himself.
However, given the complexities of this case, a verdict from the non-sequestered jury within the next three days seems unlikely, yet not impossible.
