Jurors deliberating the fate of Sean “Diddy” Combs delivered a stunning announcement Tuesday, revealing they had reached decisions on four of five criminal charges against the music mogul.
Manhattan federal court Judge Arun Subramanian, however, ordered the panel to continue deliberating rather than accept their partial verdict.
The jury of eight men and four women reported they had agreed on counts two through five but remained deadlocked on the most serious charge of racketeering conspiracy.
The development came after merely 12 hours of deliberations in the high-profile case.
“We have reached a verdict on counts 2, 3, 4 and 5,” the jury’s written note stated, referring to two sex-trafficking charges and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
The note continued with a troubling admission: “We have not reached a verdict on count 1 because we have unpersuadable jurors on both sides.”
Count one represents the racketeering conspiracy charge under the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as RICO.
This federal statute typically prosecutes organized crime syndicates, including mob families and drug cartels.
Federal prosecutors allege the Bad Boy Records founder operated a criminal enterprise spanning two decades.
The indictment accuses Combs of orchestrating a conspiracy to commit arson, kidnapping, sex-trafficking and numerous other serious offenses through his business empire.
Combs, who maintains his innocence through a not-guilty plea, appeared dejected as seven defense attorneys surrounded him before court officials read the jury’s note aloud.
The 55-year-old defendant has remained in federal custody since his September arrest.
Both prosecution and defense teams expressed opposition to accepting a partial verdict.
Marc Agnifilo, representing Combs, specifically requested the judge reject the partial decision.
“It’s our request that you tell the jury to keep deliberating, and don’t take the partial verdict,” Agnifilo told Judge Subramanian during Tuesday’s proceedings.
The judge agreed with both legal teams’ position, instructing jurors to continue their deliberations.
“I ask at this time that you keep deliberating,” Subramanian directed the panel.
Deliberations began Monday with immediate complications.
The jury sent an early note expressing concerns about one member’s ability to follow judicial instructions.
Court records indicate the problematic juror was described as a foreign-born Manhattan resident.
Tuesday brought additional jury requests for specific testimony portions.
The panel specifically asked to review sections of testimony from Cassie Ventura, Combs’ former romantic partner, including her account of a 2016 assault captured on hotel security cameras in Los Angeles.
Jurors also requested Ventura’s testimony describing a 2013 incident at the Cannes Film Festival.
According to her account, Combs accused her of drug use and forced her off a yacht, later threatening to release recorded videos of her participating in sexual encounters with male escorts during events prosecutors term “freak-offs.”
The prosecution’s case centers heavily on Ventura’s allegations.
She testified that Combs repeatedly physically assaulted her and coerced her participation in elaborate sexual performances involving male prostitutes.
These events allegedly lasted for days and were systematically recorded by Combs.
A second accuser, identified only as “Jane” to protect her anonymity, provided similar testimony.
She described being forced into degrading sexual activities and receiving threats that Combs would withdraw financial support if she refused participation, the New York Post reported.
The racketeering charge requires jurors to determine whether Combs committed at least two underlying crimes with assistance from employees and associates.
Potential underlying offenses include arson, bribery, witness tampering, kidnapping, sex-trafficking, forced labor and various drug and prostitution-related crimes.
Defense attorneys presented hundreds of text messages between Combs and the accusers.
Some messages appeared to express affection and devotion toward Combs, while others seemingly showed enthusiasm for participating in the alleged sexual activities.
Prosecutors countered that physical abuse, threats to release compromising videos, and financial coercion demonstrated a clear pattern of control and manipulation.
They argued the messages reflected fear rather than genuine consent.
The trial featured testimony from 34 witnesses over seven weeks, including male escorts allegedly paid by Combs for the sexual encounters.
The extensive witness list provided jurors with detailed accounts of the alleged criminal enterprise’s operations across multiple years.
Court proceedings revealed the prosecution’s strategy centered on establishing a pattern of coercive behavior spanning decades.
Federal attorneys presented evidence they claimed demonstrated Combs’ systematic control over victims through physical violence, financial manipulation and psychological intimidation.
The defense team countered by highlighting inconsistencies in witness testimony and presenting evidence of voluntary participation.
Defense attorneys argued that adult participants willingly engaged in the activities described by prosecutors, undermining claims of coercion and trafficking.
Evidence presented during the trial included video recordings, financial records and extensive digital communications.
Prosecutors used these materials to construct their narrative of criminal enterprise operations, while defense attorneys interpreted the same evidence as proof of consensual adult relationships.
The post Diddy Jury Reaches Shocking Partial Verdict After Just 12 Hours – Judge Refuses to Accept it appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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