Diddy Deliberations Interrupted by Jury Concerns

Simply 70 minutes into deliberations within the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex-trafficking trial, the jury despatched the choose a observe complaining that one juror might not be taking part in properly with others.”We’ve a juror,” learn the observe, “who we’re involved can’t comply with your honor’s directions.”The cryptic observe recognized the possibly drawback juror because the one sitting in seat quantity three, a 51-year-old Manhattan man and self-described scientist who sits within the third seat within the jury.The choose, protection, and prosecution agreed they need the jury to proceed. The choose stated the jury can be given a printed letter wherein he reminds them of their obligation to comply with his directions and proceed deliberating.The letter might have carried out the trick.The jury continued weighing the costs, sending out a observe at round 4 p.m. asking for a clarification of the legislation surrounding narcotics distribution, the final of eight parts of the Combs racketeering cost.They have been dismissed for the day at 5 p.m., with the primary 5 hours of deliberations below their collective belts.They’re resulting from return to the deliberation room at 9 a.m. Tuesday.Throughout voir dire, the juror who was being complained about, juror quantity three, had described himself as having a Ph.D. in molecular biology and neuroscience.He stated, in damaged English, “I am a veterinary.”He listed his hobbies as artwork, science, cooking, the outside, and mountaineering, and described the trial as “a very good break for me. I have never taken a trip in a really very long time.”Earlier Monday, courtroom officers let the hip-hop mogul share a short courtroom prayer as jury deliberations started.For 2 minutes, some 20 supporters — together with Combs’ mom Janice and his six grownup youngsters — held one another’s arms with bowed heads in a pair of entrance rows behind the protection desk.Combs confronted them from the opposite facet of a wood railing, head bowed however with out touching them.On the finish of the prayer session, these within the gathering, together with Combs, started clapping, in accordance with a silent video feed of the gathering.Deliberations comply with greater than six weeks of prosecution testimony.5 alternate jurors have been despatched house, however can be found to be known as again in if wanted.Jurors started their day Monday listening with obvious care to 2 hours of directions on the related legislation by US District Decide Arun Subramanian.The jury was despatched to the deliberations room with a double-sided, 40-page copy of these directions. They have been every additionally given copies of a three-page verdict sheet that lists the 5 counts that Combs faces, expenses that might ship him to jail for all times.Federal prosecutors allege that Combs ran Unhealthy Boy Leisure and his assortment of way of life manufacturers as an unlawful enterprise.They are saying he used his multimillion-dollar firm’s money and personnel to help drug distribution, pressured labor, kidnapping, and different crimes. Probably the most critical racketeering crime, prosecutors say. is the intercourse trafficking of his two girlfriends, R&B singer Cassie Ventura from 2009 via 2018, and a girlfriend who testified below the pseudonym of “Jane” from 2021 to 2024.Combs’ attorneys argue that the intercourse was consensual, and confirmed the jury texts they are saying show the ladies loved these encounters. The ladies have informed jurors that they solely informed Combs what he needed to listen to, as a result of solely when he was completely happy may they really feel secure and financially safe.Combs has pleaded not responsible to 5 expenses: Racketeering conspiracy, separate intercourse trafficking counts for Ventura and Jane, and separate expenses of transporting the 2 girls for functions of partaking in acts of prostitution.This story was up to date to mirror developments from the tip of the day on Monday.