Jury in Diddy's sex trafficking trial to resume deliberations after reaching partial verdict
Share this @internewscast.com

NEW YORK (AP) — The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial is scheduled to resume its deliberations on Wednesday after arriving at a decision on all but one of the five charges against the hip-hop mogul.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian instructed the jury to continue its private discussions for a third day after the group of eight men and four women reported on Tuesday that they were unable to reach agreement on the most serious charge: racketeering conspiracy.

The judge concurred with both prosecutors and Combs’ legal team that less than 13 hours of deliberations was premature to abandon efforts to reach a unanimous verdict on all the charges.

The jury’s decision on the other charges — two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution — remains under wraps for now.

In a note to the court late Tuesday, the jury said “unpersuadable opinions on both sides” among some jurors had prevented the group from reaching a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge.

Racketeering conspiracy is the most complicated charge in the trial and carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison.

The sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The disclosure of the jury note about the partial verdict seemed to put defense attorneys and their client in a dour mood even before it was read in open court by the judge.

Eight defense lawyers formed a half-circle behind Combs as the smiles and lighthearted mood that accompanied the arrival of other jury notes over two days seemed absent as the attorneys contemplated the possibility that jurors had reached agreement on counts that carry the heaviest sentencing penalties.

Combs, 55, appeared morose as his lawyers spoke with him. At one point, the hip-hop mogul solemnly read a piece of paper that attorney Marc Agnifilo handed to him.

After the jury came in for instructions and then exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a few minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his relatives and supporters in the audience, blew a kiss and tapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day.

Then he paused before his mother and exchanged a few words, telling her, “Love you” and “I’ll be all right.”

Marshals then led him from the room.

Earlier in their deliberations the jury asked to review testimony from Cassie, the R&B singer who was Diddy’s former longtime girlfriend, as well as from Daniel Phillip, a male stripper Diddy is accused of paying to have sex with Cassie.

Prosecutors say Combs coerced two girlfriends into drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers.

Lawyers for the Bad Boy Records founder contend prosecutors are trying to criminalize Combs’ swinger lifestyle. They say his conduct, if anything, amounted to domestic violence, not federal felonies.

Combs, who chose not to testify, has pleaded not guilty.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Hamas Reprisals: Terror Group Accused of Killing Pregnant Woman, 5-Year-Old in Gaza

Hamas Retaliations: Accusations Arise Over Killing of Pregnant Woman and Child in Gaza

A venomous snake’s nature is to be feared, and in this instance,…
LA county reaches tentative $828M agreement to settle 400 more claims of sexual abuse

LA County Agrees to $828M Settlement for 400 Sexual Abuse Claims: A Major Step Towards Justice

Los Angeles County has reached a preliminary agreement worth $828 million to…
OceanGate Titan submersible damaged on multiple dives before catastrophic implosion, NTSB report finds

NTSB Report Reveals Repeated Damage to OceanGate Titan Submersible Prior to Tragic Implosion

A damning new investigation into the Titan submersible tragedy, which claimed the…
Kim Kardashian wanted Sarah Paulson to 'bring it' when the star dressed up as her in 'All's Fair'

Kim Kardashian Challenges Sarah Paulson to ‘Bring It’ in Epic ‘All’s Fair’ Costume Showdown

LOS ANGELES — The glitz and glamour of Hollywood were in full…
Charges dropped against man accused of leaving dog tied up on I-75 during Milton

Man Cleared of Charges for Allegedly Abandoning Dog on I-75 in Milton

The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office announced that it lacked the “good-faith…
Alaska evacuations today: Typhoon storm devastation, flooding so bad many evacuees won't go home for at least 18 months, gov says

Alaska Faces Severe Flooding: Evacuations Underway with Long-Term Displacement Expected

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The devastation caused by recent flooding in remote Alaskan…
State attorneys general sue Trump administration for canceled solar program funding

State Attorneys General Challenge Trump Administration Over Solar Program Funding Cuts

On Thursday, more than a dozen state attorneys general filed a lawsuit…

Texas Detention Center Shooting: Two Suspects Charged with Terrorism Offenses

DALLAS (AP) — A pair of individuals apprehended in connection with a…
Two Putnam County deputies fired for falsifying timecards, sheriff's office says

Putnam County Deputies Dismissed Over Alleged Timecard Fraud, Sheriff’s Office Confirms

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has reported a financial loss exceeding $9,000…
1st in-country transmission of new mpox strain confirmed in US

First U.S. Transmission of New Mpox Strain Sparks Health Alert

Previously, all six identified cases of this mpox variant in the United…
How Trump's approval shifted after the ceasefire in Gaza, according to a new AP-NORC poll

Unveiling the Impact: How Trump’s Approval Ratings Fluctuated Post-Gaza Ceasefire, According to Latest AP-NORC Poll

WASHINGTON (AP) — A recent poll indicates that more U.S. adults are…
Thatcher centennial celebration examines how Reagan partnership guides modern US-UK relations

Exploring Thatcher’s Legacy: How Her Alliance with Reagan Shapes Today’s US-UK Relations

Trump speaks with Putin one day before meeting with Zelenskyy Fox News’…