After weeks of shocking testimony and tense courtroom moments, the jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial has reached a decision on most of the charges.
But with the most serious charge still up in the air, the case isn’t over yet.
Here’s where things stand.
What’s happened so far with the Diddy trial verdict?
On Tuesday (local time), Judge Arun Subramanian told the court that the jury had agreed on four out of five charges against Diddy: two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transporting people for prostitution. But when it came to the most serious charge — racketeering conspiracy — the jury was split.
Some jurors just wouldn’t budge, with “unpersuadable opinions on both sides”, per Sydney Morning Herald. Due to this disagreement, the judge has asked the jury to keep talking and try to reach a decision. Deliberations will start up again at 9am New York time (11pm AEST) on Wednesday.
Combs, who is 55, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If he’s found guilty of sex trafficking or racketeering, he could face life in prison.
Why is there only a partial verdict in the Diddy case?
A partial verdict means the jury has made up its mind on some charges, but not all. This usually happens when a charge is more complicated or when people on the jury just can’t agree.
In this case, the racketeering conspiracy charge is especially tricky. Jurors have to decide if Combs was running a criminal group and if he and his staff did illegal things together to help him abuse his partners.
The jury sent a note to the judge saying they couldn’t agree, so the judge told them to keep trying.
What’s been happening in the Diddy trial?
The trial has gone on for seven weeks and included some pretty heavy evidence. Two of Combs’ ex-girlfriends, including singer Cassie Ventura, said he abused them and forced them into “freak offs” — drug-fuelled sex parties with paid escorts while Combs watched.
The jury saw security footage from 2016 of Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in a hotel hallway. Prosecutors say Combs used violence, threats, and money to control his partners, and that his staff helped set up the hotel rooms and get drugs, which they say makes it a criminal conspiracy.
Combs’ lawyers admit he was violent at times, but say everything else was consensual. They argue that the women took part because they wanted to make Combs happy, and that the prosecution is trying to turn his private life into a crime. Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in his closing statement, “If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldn’t all be here. He did not do the things he’s charged with”.
What’s next in the Diddy case?
The jury will keep talking about the racketeering conspiracy charge. If they still can’t agree, the judge might accept the partial verdict and declare a mistrial on that one count. For now, everyone’s waiting to see what happens next.
We’ll update this story as soon as there’s a final decision.
Lead image: AP News / Getty
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