The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ intercourse trafficking trial is about to renew deliberations Wednesday after reaching a yet-to-be-disclosed verdict on all however one of many 5 prices the hip-hop mogul faces.
U.S. District Choose Arun Subramanian ordered the jury to proceed its closed-door discussions for a 3rd day after the panel of eight males and 4 girls mentioned Tuesday that it was unable to succeed in consensus on the highest depend: racketeering conspiracy.
The decide agreed with prosecutors and Combs’ protection staff that lower than 13 hours of deliberations was too quickly to surrender on reaching a verdict on all counts.
The jury’s choice on the opposite prices — two counts of intercourse trafficking and two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution — stays underneath wraps for now.
In a notice to the courtroom late Tuesday, the jury mentioned “unpersuadable opinions on both sides” amongst some jurors had prevented the group from reaching a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy cost.
Racketeering conspiracy is essentially the most difficult cost within the trial and carries a possible most sentence of life in jail.
The intercourse trafficking cost carries a compulsory minimal sentence of 15 years in jail and a most sentence of life. Transportation to interact in prostitution carries a most sentence of 10 years in jail.
The jury notice concerning the partial verdict appeared to place protection attorneys — and their consumer — in a dour temper even earlier than it was learn in open courtroom by the decide.
The jury has heard all the things they are going to hear from each side after Combs’ protection staff delivered their closing arguments on Friday. In a blistering shut, Combs’ legal professional mentioned his consumer’s private life was underneath assault, questioning the fees and the standard of the proof in opposition to him. NBC New York’s Erica Byfield experiences.
Eight protection attorneys fashioned a half-circle behind Combs as the grins and lighthearted temper that accompanied the arrival of different jury notes over two days appeared absent because the attorneys contemplated the likelihood that jurors had reached settlement on counts that carry the heaviest sentencing penalties.
Combs, 55, appeared morose as his attorneys spoke with him. The hip-hop mogul solemnly learn a bit of paper that legal professional Marc Agnifilo handed to him.
After the jury got here in for directions after which exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a couple of minutes. As he stood to depart, he confronted his family and supporters within the viewers, blew a kiss and tapped his coronary heart, as he steadily has completed firstly and finish of every day.
Then he paused earlier than his mom and exchanged a couple of phrases, telling her, “Love you” and “I’ll be all right.”
Marshals then led him from the room.
A pal of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former girlfriend took the stand in his sex-trafficking trial, accusing Combs of dangling her over a 17-story balcony in Los Angeles throughout a violent outburst. NBC New York’s Erica Byfield experiences.
Earlier of their deliberations the jury requested to evaluation testimony from Cassie, the R&B singer who was Diddy’s former longtime girlfriend, in addition to from Daniel Phillip, a male stripper Diddy is accused of paying to have intercourse with Cassie.
Prosecutors say Combs coerced two girlfriends into drug-fueled intercourse marathons with male intercourse staff.
Attorneys for the Dangerous Boy Information founder contend prosecutors are attempting to criminalize Combs’ swinger way of life. They are saying his conduct, if something, amounted to home violence, not federal felonies.
Combs, who selected to not testify, has pleaded not responsible.
Sources for victims of sexual assault can be found via the Nationwide Sexual Violence Sources Middle and the Nationwide Sexual Assault Phone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
