Jury deliberations bought underway on Monday (Jun 30) in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal intercourse trafficking trial and hit a snag virtually as quickly as they began. However, by the tip of the day, jurors indicated they had been making progress weighing advanced expenses that would put the hip-hop mogul in jail for all times.
The primary day of deliberations noticed a flurry of notes from the jury and Combs and his supporters bowing their heads in prayer within the courtroom – however no verdict.
The jury of eight males and 4 girls are sifting by way of seven weeks of typically graphic and emotional testimony in regards to the rap, trend and actuality TV impresario ’s propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, together with drug-fuelled intercourse marathons dubbed “freak-offs” or “resort nights”.
About an hour in, the foreperson reported {that a} juror may be having hassle following the 61 pages value of directions the decide had simply learn to them.
“We’re involved (the juror) can’t comply with your honor’s directions,” the foreperson stated in a be aware to Choose Arun Subramanian simply after 12.30pm.
After the decide initially proposed asking the jury foreperson the character of issues in regards to the fellow juror, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo advised warning and that it was higher to say lower than extra.
“We will all the time ratchet it up. We will’t ratchet it down,” Agnifilo stated.
Subramanian despatched his response to the jury round 2pm, reminding the panel to deliberate and to comply with his directions on the regulation.
The jury despatched one other be aware about three hours later asking for clarification on the a part of the directions addressing drug distribution – an allegation included in Combs’ racketeering conspiracy cost.
As deliberations had been occurring, Combs prayed together with his household and associates within the courtroom. Sporting his customary sweater and khakis, he stood dealing with his contingent within the viewers and bowed his head with them. As they completed, they applauded, together with Combs.
Combs additionally confirmed off two books he’s studying: The Energy Of Optimistic Considering, by Norman Vincent Peale and The Happiness Benefit, by Shawn Achor.
As he despatched the jury to deliberate, Subramanian instructed the 5 alternate jurors to stay on standby at residence in case they’re wanted at a later level.
Jurors had been supplied with a laptop computer loaded with all the displays proven in court docket, together with textual content messages, images and movies of the sexual encounters on the coronary heart of the case.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to federal expenses of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of intercourse trafficking – relating to 2 of his ex-girlfriends – and two counts of transportation to have interaction in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly his girlfriends and intercourse employees throughout state strains.
In closing arguments final week, federal prosecutors and Combs’ defence staff took their final photographs at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founding father of Dangerous Boy Data.
“The defendant used energy, violence and worry to get what he wished,” Assistant US Legal professional Christy Slavik stated. “He thought that his fame, wealth and energy put him above the regulation.”
She stated that he used his “shut internal circle and a small military of private employees, who made it their mission to fulfill the defendant’s each want, promote his energy and defend his status in any respect prices”.
Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, “This isn’t about crime. It’s about cash.” He famous that one in every of Combs’ accusers within the prison case additionally sued him in civil court docket.
“He isn’t a racketeer. He isn’t a conspirator to commit racketeering. He’s none of these items. He’s harmless. He sits there harmless. Return him to his household, who’ve been ready for him,” the lawyer instructed jurors.
In all, 34 witnesses testified, headlined by Combs’ former girlfriends Cassie – the R&B singer born Casandra Ventura – and “Jane”, who testified beneath a pseudonym. Each girls stated he typically was violent towards them. Cassie stated he pressured her into tons of of sexual encounters with paid male intercourse employees whereas Jane recounted quite a few “resort nights”.
Jurors additionally noticed now-infamous security camera video of Combs beating, kicking and dragging Cassie at a Los Angeles resort in 2016 and clips from movies of sexual encounters.
Combs chose not to testify, and his attorneys didn’t name any witnesses of their defence case. His attorneys elected as a substitute to problem the accusers’ credibility throughout prolonged cross-examination questioning.
The defence has acknowledged that Combs veered into violence, however his attorneys keep that the intercourse acts had been consensual. They contend that prosecutors are intruding in Combs’ private life and that he’s achieved nothing to warrant the fees in opposition to him.
