New York, NY — The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs resumed this morning as deliberations continued in a high-profile case surrounding sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.
Combs sat alone at the defense table, absent the expected presence of his legal team as they gathered on the side of the courtroom. He was observed flipping through a substantial legal text and taking notes as the jury resumed their deliberations.
The previous day, jurors indicated they had reached a verdict on four of the criminal counts against Combs, specifically two counts of sex trafficking and two of transportation for prostitution. However, they faced challenges in reaching a unanimous decision on the racketeering conspiracy charge.
In a note to the court, the jury foreman highlighted their struggles, stating, “We are unable to reach a verdict on Count One, as we have jurors with unpersuadable opinions on both sides.”
To secure a conviction for racketeering conspiracy, jurors must believe beyond a reasonable doubt that Combs collaborated with at least one other individual to commit two predicate crimes. Allegations against him include a range of serious offenses such as kidnapping, bribery, and sex trafficking, categorized as “racketeering acts.”
In his instructions to the jury, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian emphasized the necessity of mutual understanding and cooperation among individuals to accomplish unlawful objectives. He urged the jurors to continue deliberating on the racketeering charge following their report of deadlock.
Judge Subramanian reminded the jury of the importance of individual conviction in their decision-making, stating, “Your verdict must be unanimous, but you are not bound to surrender your honest convictions for the mere purpose of arriving at a verdict.”
As deliberations have now extended beyond 13 hours since the jury received the case on Monday, both sides remain focused on the outcome of this closely watched trial.
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