The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ intercourse trafficking trial stated Tuesday that it has reached a verdict on 4 of 5 counts towards the hip-hop mogul and was unable to achieve a choice on the highest cost, racketeering conspiracy.
However the consequence of any of the fees was not but clear. The choose advised the jury to carry off asserting its partial verdict and as an alternative to proceed weighing the remaining cost. Like prosecutors and Combs’ protection staff, Choose Arun Subramanian reasoned that after simply two days of deliberations, it was too quickly to surrender on reaching a verdict on all counts.
The event got here late Tuesday afternoon, when the jury despatched a observe saying it was unable to achieve a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy cost as a result of there have been jurors with “unpersuadable views” on each side.
Subramanian famous that juries have a proper to ship a partial verdict, however he stated that on condition that deliberations began solely Monday, he’d quite they proceed for now. The jury was finally dismissed for the day.
Combs’ attorneys surrounded him on the protection desk quickly after the observe was despatched to the court docket. The hip-hop mogul appeared morose as they defined to him what was taking place. At one level, lead protection lawyer Marc Agnifilo stepped away from the huddle, returned with a chunk of paper and handed it to Combs, who learn it solemnly.
Combs’ mom and a number of other of his youngsters returned to the courtroom after the choose introduced that the jury had reached a partial verdict.
Prosecutors, in the meantime, had been at their desk glued to their telephones and laptop computer computer systems.
Jurors are weighing costs that Combs used his fame, wealth and violence to pressure two girlfriends into drug-fueled intercourse marathons with male intercourse employees often known as “freak-offs” or “resort nights.”
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He has pleaded not responsible, and his attorneys contend prosecutors are attempting to criminalize Combs’ swinger way of life and that, if something, his conduct amounted to home violence, not federal felonies.
Combs, 55, might face 15 years in jail to life behind bars if he’s convicted of all costs.
Racketeering conspiracy — depend 1 on the jury’s verdict sheet — is probably the most sophisticated of the fees towards Combs as a result of it requires the jury to resolve not solely whether or not he ran a “racketeering enterprise,” but additionally whether or not he was concerned in committing some or all of varied kinds of offenses, corresponding to kidnapping and arson.
The cost falls beneath RICO — the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act — which is greatest recognized for being utilized in organized crime and drug cartel instances.
Earlier Tuesday, the jury requested to evaluation essential testimony from one of many prosecution’s most vital witnesses: the hip-hop mogul’s former longtime girlfriend Cassie.
The panel of eight males and 4 ladies requested for Cassie’s account of Combs beating, kicking and dragging her at a Los Angeles resort in 2016 — an assault captured on now-infamous safety digital camera footage.
Additionally they requested to see Cassie’s testimony about an incident wherein she stated Combs accused her of taking medicine from him and kicked her off of their yacht on the Cannes Movie Competition in France in 2013. On their manner again to the U.S., she stated, he threatened to launch specific movies of her having intercourse.
As well as, the jury requested for Cassie and stripper Daniel Phillip’s testimony about her leaping into his lap at a New York Metropolis resort after, as Phillip testified, he suspected Combs had been slapping and slamming her round an adjoining room.
“Her entire complete physique was shaking, like she was terrified,” stated Phillip, who was on the resort for a sexual encounter with Cassie someday between 2012 and 2014.
Phillip testified that he requested Cassie, the R&B singer whose actual identify is Casandra Ventura, why she was with Combs if he was hitting her and beating her. He stated he advised her she was in actual hazard. Cassie, he stated, “principally tried to persuade me that it was OK, it’s OK. I’m high quality, I’ll be OK.”
Phillip and Cassie had been among the many first witnesses who testified when the trial started final month.
The jury’s testimony request got here quickly after Combs’ attorneys and prosecutors started the day haggling with Choose Subramanian over a jury query left over from the top of the primary day of deliberations on Monday.
Jurors wished clarification about what qualifies as drug distribution, a facet of the racketeering conspiracy cost that may assist decide whether or not Combs may be convicted or exonerated on the depend.
Subramanian stated he would remind jurors of the directions he gave them on that a part of the case earlier than they began deliberating on Monday. Combs’ attorneys had pushed for a extra expansive response, however prosecutors argued — and Subramanian agreed — that doing so might find yourself complicated jurors extra.
On Monday, the panel deliberated over 5 hours with out reaching a verdict. Barely an hour into deliberations, the jury foreperson despatched a observe to the choose, complaining that there was one juror “who we’re involved can not comply with your Honor’s directions. Could I please converse together with your Honor or could you please interview him?”
The choose despatched jurors a observe reminding them of their duties to deliberate and obligation to comply with his directions on the legislation.
After pleading not responsible, Combs selected to not testify as his attorneys constructed their arguments for acquittal largely by prolonged cross examinations of dozens of witnesses referred to as by prosecutors, together with a few of Combs’ former workers who took the witness stand reluctantly solely after being granted immunity.
When jurors first left the room to start deliberating on Monday, Combs sat for some time slumped in his chair on the protection desk earlier than standing and turning towards three rows of spectators packed together with his household and buddies.
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