Jury sends several notes for testimony and clarification as deliberations continue in the Diddy trial

The jury in the sex crimes case against Sean “Diddy” Combs is showing troubling signs as experts warn of a split verdict, Fox News reported. The jury sent several notes during its first two days of deliberations, which could be a troubling sign for jurors.

Testimony concluded on Friday, with the jury beginning its deliberations on Monday. This continued into Tuesday with the jury meeting for 10 hours and sending several more notes during that time.

One of the most consequential notes pertained to the testimony of Cassie Ventura, Combs’ ex-girlfriend, and a male escort. Such snags indicate that issues are not cut and dry for the jury, and attorney David S. Seltzer believes it demonstrates the necessity of sequestration.

“I don’t see how people are not influenced by outside factor. We live in a technology world where everyone wants their information now. I know the jury was instructed not to read anything, but I don’t think that was realistic given the length of the trial,” Seltzer said.

“Rare nail-biter”

The trial lasted seven weeks, but deliberations seem to be hitting several obstacles already in what should be a straightforward case.  Retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro said so far, the trial has been a “rare nail-biter” for the state’s attorneys.

“The Southern District’s conviction rate is well-north of 90%. They don’t take cases to lose them,” Mauro told Fox News Digital. However, that doesn’t mean this is a sure thing for the prosecution.

“That said, the Diddy case has some real challenges. In the end, the evidence came down to how coerced the female victims were,” Mauro added.

“As these women reached out affirmatively to Diddy, were they suffering a version of battered wife syndrome? Or was the entire thing transactional?” he went on.

“Further: Without that sexual activity, will the drug and weapons allegations suffice to demonstrate an actual racketeering entity? This is a rare nail-biter for SDNY – far from a slam-dunk. And the possibility of a split verdict here, at the least, is very real,” Mauro concluded.

Sequestering

Experts believe that the jury’s notes requesting clarification or a return to specific testimony do not bode well for the prosecution. One of the notes asked for clarification of Judge Arun Subramanian’s instructions.

Another asked about exactly what distribution of drugs entailed, and these together could mean a jury that won’t agree on a verdict. “Courts will always push a jury to get to a unanimous verdict, but at the end of the day, it is up to the jury if they think they can get there,” Seltzer said.

“Oftentimes, when there are issues within the jury, they cannot get there, and it ends up in a hung jury,” he added. Seltzer believes the answer would have been to sequester the jury, as access to news and other information about the case could cloud judgment, making a verdict unreachable.

“I have been saying from day one that it is impossible to tell people to stay off media and/or computers for six weeks-plus, when people are addicted to their devices. I think the court is relying on the admonishment, but respectfully turning a blind eye,” Seltzer said.

The jury is up against the Independence Day holiday while Combs’ future hangs in the balance. Combs maintains his innocence, but the rap mogul could face up to life in prison if convicted.