Jury deliberations obtained underway on Monday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal intercourse trafficking trial and hit a snag nearly as quickly as they began. However, by the top of the day, jurors indicated they had been making progress weighing complicated costs 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 ladies are sifting by way of seven weeks of typically graphic and emotional testimony concerning the rap, style and actuality TV impresario ’s propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, together with drug-fueled intercourse marathons dubbed “ freak-offs ” or “lodge nights.”
About an hour in, the foreperson reported {that a} juror may be having hassle following the 61 pages price of directions the decide had simply learn to them.
“We’re involved (the juror) can not observe your honor’s directions,” the foreperson stated in a word to Choose Arun Subramanian simply after 12:30 p.m.
After the decide initially proposed asking the jury foreperson the character of issues concerning the fellow juror, protection lawyer Marc Agnifilo steered warning and that it was higher to say lower than extra.
“We are able to at all times ratchet it up. We are able to’t ratchet it down,” Agnifilo stated.
Choose Arun Subramanian despatched his response to the jury round 2 p.m. reminding the panel to deliberate and to observe his directions on the regulation.
The jury despatched one other word about three hours later asking for clarification on a part of the directions coping with drug distribution — an allegation included in Combs’ racketeering conspiracy cost.
As deliberations had been taking place, Combs prayed along with his household and mates within the courtroom. Carrying his customary sweater and khakis, he confronted his contingent within the viewers and bowed his head with them. As they end, they applauded and ultimately left the courtroom.
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Combs additionally confirmed off two books he’s studying: “The Energy of Constructive Pondering,” 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 in case they’re wanted to fill in on the principle jury.
Jurors are being supplied with a laptop computer loaded with all the displays proven in courtroom, together with textual content messages, pictures and movies of the sexual encounters on the coronary heart of the case.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to federal costs 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’ protection crew took their final pictures at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founding father of Unhealthy Boy Information.
“The defendant used energy, violence and concern to get what he wished,” Assistant U.S. 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 satisfy the defendant’s each want, promote his energy and defend his repute in any respect prices.”
Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, “This isn’t about crime. It’s about cash.” He famous that one among Combs’ accusers within the felony case additionally sued him in civil courtroom.
“He’s not a racketeer. He’s not a conspirator to commit racketeering. He’s none of this stuff. 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 ladies stated he typically was violent towards them. Ventura stated he compelled her into a whole bunch of sexual encounters with paid male intercourse employees whereas Jane recounted quite a few “lodge nights.”
Jurors additionally noticed now-infamous safety digital camera video of Combs beating, kicking and dragging Ventura at a Los Angeles lodge in 2016 and clips from movies of sexual encounters.
Combs selected to not testify, and his legal professionals didn’t name any witnesses of their protection case. His attorneys elected as an alternative to problem the accusers’ credibility throughout prolonged cross-examination questioning.
The protection has acknowledged that Combs veered into violence, however his legal professionals preserve that the intercourse acts had been consensual. They contend that prosecutors are intruding in Combs’ private life and that he’s completed nothing to warrant the fees towards him.
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