With no verdict reached in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial on the first day of deliberations, the jury of eight males and 4 girls gathered once more Tuesday to proceed discussing the costs.
Choose Arun Subramanian started by addressing with the prosecution and protection a query posed Monday from the jury about one of many alleged racketeering acts — possession with intent to distribute medication — which pertains to the racketeering conspiracy cost Combs is going through. The jury despatched a be aware asking for clarification on the a part of the directions addressing drug distribution.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to federal costs of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of intercourse trafficking, and two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly intercourse staff throughout state strains.
The primary day of deliberations noticed a number of notes from the jury, in addition to Combs and his supporters bowing their heads in prayer within the courtroom. One of many notes got here not lengthy after jurors began deliberating and raised considerations from a number of jurors about one other member of the panel. They instructed the choose they thought “he can not comply with your honor’s directions.”
After a dialogue between the choose, attorneys for Combs and prosecutors, the choose reminded the jurors of their obligation to comply with the legislation and despatched them again to renew their deliberations, however stated if extra points ought to come up, the foreperson ought to ship one other be aware.
To assist them come to a verdict, jurors have been supplied with a laptop computer loaded with the entire displays proven in courtroom, together with textual content messages, images and movies of the sexual encounters on the coronary heart of the case.
5 alternate jurors are additionally on standby in case they’re wanted to fill in on the primary jury.
The jury will sift by way of seven weeks of at instances 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-fueled intercourse marathons dubbed “freak-offs” or “resort nights.” Protection legal professionals argued that there was no conspiracy and that his conduct didn’t violate federal legal guidelines.
Alice Gainer
contributed to this report.
