Diddy trial recap: Juror casts doubt on ability to follow instructions during deliberations

Diddy’s lawyers and the prosecution trade blows during fiery closing arguments: ‘A tale of two trials’

Diddy’s son King releases song with Kanye West calling for father’s freedom

Diddy had ‘total control’ of criminal enterprise, prosecutors claim in mammoth closing arguments: ‘He doesn’t take no for an answer’

Key points

• Jury is charged, deliberations begin
• Who are the jurors set to decide Sean Combs's fate?
• Jury asks for clarification on distribution of controlled substances
• Recap: Key moments from closing arguments

'A tale of two trials': Recap of closing arguments last week

The defense for Sean “Diddy” Combs described the “tale of two trials” as the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial is soon to enter jury deliberations.

Marc Agnifilo, Diddy’s lead attorney, paced in front of the jury box as he delivered an animated closing argument for the defense Friday, claiming the case against his client tells the “tale of two trials.”

One trial relies on witnesses, text messages, videos and evidence; the other is “told from the mouths of prosecutors” and is “badly, badly exaggerated,” he argued.

Kelly Rissman has the details:

Diddy’s lawyers and the prosecution trade blows during fiery closing arguments

Who are the jurors set to decide Diddy's fate?

With jury deliberations about to begin in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal trial, here’s a look at the 12 members of the panel tasked with deciding the music mogul’s fate.

Eight men and four women comprise the dozen New Yorkers selected to sit for the trial.

Ranging in age from 30 to 74, the jurors come from Manhattan, the Bronx, and nearby Westchester County.

Their professions vary widely: from an investment analyst to a massage therapist.

Several of the younger jurors said they listen to hip-hop and R&B music, genres aligned with Combs.

Some of the jurors have said they were familiar with the 2016 surveillance footage of Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.

Jury to start deliberating this morning

After seven weeks inside Manhattan federal court, a jury is set to begin deliberating later this morning to decide whether Sean Combs was running a criminal enterprise or merely living a swinger’s lifestyle, which included drug abuse and violence.

The 12 men and women on the panel have listened to dozens of witnesses, including two of Combs’s ex-girlfriends – Cassie Ventura and “Jane” – and two male escorts who took part in his drug-fueled marathon sex parties known as “freak-offs.”

The 55-year-old music mogul, who is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges, could face between 15 years to life in prison.

What happens when a jury begins deliberating?

Judge Arun Subramanian will give instructions to the jurors this morning before sending them off to deliberate inside the Manhattan federal courthouse.

The jury must unanimously decide guilty or not guilty on each count, meaning all 12 members of the panel must agree. If jurors don’t reach an agreement, they could come back and say they are deadlocked.

Traditionally, the judge would then encourage them to continue deliberating, but if they can’t reach a consensus, it would be up to the judge to decide whether to declare a mistrial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Judge to address jurors before deliberations begin

Judge Arun Subramanian sent jurors home over the weekend so they could “come back fresh on Monday morning.”

Before deliberations can begin, the 12 jurors are set to receive the judge’s instructions in a process known as “charging the jury,” in which the court reviews the government’s key arguments and outlines the relevant laws and charges.

The process is expected to last several hours.

Could a verdict come today?

The jury is set to begin deliberations today after receiving legal instructions from Judge Arun Subramanian.

There is no fixed timeline for deliberations, which can last anywhere from a few hours to several days or longer.

Given the volume of testimony from 34 witnesses that took the stand and the case’s legal complexity, it’s possible the jury will take its time to reach a unanimous verdict.

From court: Judge to deliver extensive instructions to jury

Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial has entered its final stretch.

The judge is expected to read approximately 118 pages of legal instructions to the jury before deliberations begin.

How will the jury decide on the racketeering conspiracy charge?

The government has proposed 10 predicate acts – a specific crime that forms part of a larger criminal pattern – that support the racketeering conspiracy charge.

A jury must unanimously find that at least two of those acts listed were committed to convict Combs of the specific charge.

One of the predicate acts is sex trafficking, which, if jurors agree happened, they must specify it involved either of Combs’s ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura – between 2009 and 2018 – or a witness who testified under the pseudonym “Jane” – between May 2021 and 2024.

It is separate from the two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution that Combs faces.

In sketches: Six weeks of testimony, two key moments

How long could Diddy spend in prison if found guilty?

Sean Combs is is facing two charges of sex trafficking, two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution and a racketeering conspiracy charge.

Combs faces up to life in prison if he is convicted on the racketeering charge.

If he is found guilty of sex trafficking, he faces another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years.

Transportation to engage in prostitution typically carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Back in court: judge begins to read jury instrucitons

Court has begun for the day and Judge Arun Subramanian is beginning to read jury instructions to the panel of 12 New Yorkers.

Catch up with closing arguments

The defense for Sean “Diddy” Combs described the “tale of two trials” as the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial is soon to enter jury deliberations.

Kelly Rissman reports:

Diddy’s lawyers and the prosecution trade blows during fiery closing arguments

Combs' family arrives before deliberations

What does the government need to prove for racketeering conspiracy?

The jury must determine whether or not Combs conspired with at least one other member of his alleged “criminal enterprise” to commit two crimes within 10 years of each other, Judge Subramanian instructed on Monday.

The first charge brought by the government was racketeering conspiracy – a serious allegation that carries a maximum sentencing of life in prison.

In their indictment, prosecutors alleged that Combs co-conspired to commit arson, transportation to engage in prostitution, kidnapping, bribery of a witness, sex trafficking, forced labor, witness tampering, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

The judge instructed jurors that kidnapping occurs when the victim did not consent. Arson, as defined under California law, is the intentional act of setting or causing fire to something. Bribery requires a conspirator to have given, or promised to give, a bribe to a witness providing information to law enforcement.

Forced labor requires the use of force, or physical restraint, on a person who did not give consent or revoked consent. Witness tampering does not require a person to have become fearful, just that someone threatened a potential witness.

Distribution of narcotics means that a person knowingly and intentionally transferred narcotics to another person.

Jurors also must find that this behavior continued past 2019, because RICO has a five-year statute of limitations.

What does the government need to prove in sex trafficking charge?

For jurors to find Combs guilty of sex trafficking, the government needed to prove that Combs transported one person to another place with reckless disregard that caused a person to engage in commercial sex acts.

Combs was charged with two counts of sex trafficking, one for his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and another for his ex-girlfriend known under the pseudonym “Jane.”

Jurors must be unanimous in at least one specific instance of sex trafficking.

What does the government need to prove in transportation for prostitution charges?

The government needed to prove that Combs knowingly transported or arranged for the transportation of an individual for prostitution – sexual activity in exchange for money or its equivalent – beyond a reasonable doubt in order for jurors to find him guilty of the charge.

Combs is facing two counts of transportation for prostitution purposes – one regarding Ventura and the other regarding “Jane.”

Judge Subramanian said that buying or arranging a ticket is enough to prove transportation, but that the government needed to prove at least one of those acts occurred in the court’s jurisdiction.

Jury is charged, deliberations begin

The jury has been instructed and the judge has sent them back to the room for deliberations.

Inside the courtroom: Combs writes notes to his attorneys

The jury got the case at 11:30 a.m. after two hours and 15 minutes of instructions.

Combs spent a lot of that time writing notes to his attorneys. He also took off one pair of glasses and then put on another.

He’s wearing a light yellow sweater and came in with a smile, and hugged his attorneys, as always.

Juror number 5 selected as foreperson

The jury selected Juror #5 to be the foreperson.

Jury sends note to judge concerned about juror No 25

Shortly into deliberations, the jury sent a note to Judge Subramanian, concerned about juror number 25, who said they cannot follow the judge’s instructions.

“We have a juror, No. 25, who we are concerned cannot follow your honor’s instructions,” the note read.

The foreperson asked to speak with the judge or allow Juror No. 25 to speak with the judge.

Judge sends note back, encouraging jury to continue deliberations

After conferring with attorneys, Judge Arun Subramanian sent a note back to the jury encouraging them to continue deliberations and follow his instructions.

“I received your note. I remind every juror of their duty to deliberate and their obligation to follow my instruction on the law. With that instruction in mind, please continue deliberating,” Subramanian wrote.

The judge also reminded jurors not to send any notes revealing how the jury is leaning or information about each juror.

Combs can have books in holding cell, judge rules

As he sent the jury out for deliberations, Judge Subramanian granted Combs’ request to have books in his holding cell.

Read a copy of the verdict sheet

Jurors in Manhattan are being asked to determine if music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is guilty of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation for prostitution purposes.

To do so, they’ll review evidence and then fill out a verdict form, which simplifies the charges down to “yes” or “no” questions and “guilty” or “not guilty” checks.

Read a copy of the verdict sheet here

Jurors send another note

The jury has sent another note to the judge.

Jury asks for clarification on distribution of controlled substances

The jury sent two final notes to Judge Subramanian before departing for the day, the first asking for clarification on what distribution of controlled substances and the second informing the court they will be done for the day at 5 p.m.

Judge Subramanian said he would respond to their question in the morning.

Jurors will return on Tuesday at 9 a.m.