A verdict was reached in the Sean “Diddy” Combs case Wednesday morning.
Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — A 12-member jury has told the judge in the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial they have reached a verdict on the sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges, but are unable to come up with a unanimous vote on the racketeering charge.
In a note to Judge Arun Subramanian, the jury said, “there are jurors that are unpersuadable on both sides” regarding the racketeering charge.
Subramanian instructed the jury to keep deliberating, but to “not surrender” their personal opinions. Jurors ended their day shortly after the judge’s instructions and are expected to be back in court Wednesday morning.
Attorneys on both sides had asked Subramanian to direct the jury to continue talking through the final charge.
Prosecutors wanted the judge to deliver a modified Allen charge, but defense attorneys say the first move should be to ask jurors to keep going.
There is a possibility the case could produce a partial verdict.
The jury came back to the deliberation room after convening for more than 12 hours this week.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Racketeering and sex trafficking charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The sex trafficking charge also carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
Transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
What is an Allen charge?
An Allen charge is an instruction by the judge reminding the jurors of how much time and money has gone into the case and how imperative it is that they reach a decision.
What does a partial verdict mean?
A partial verdict is when a jury reaches a decision on some of the charges or defendants in a trial, but not all of them. This can happen when the jury is unable to agree on all of the charges or defendants.
Jurors ask for Cassie’s transcripts
On Tuesday, jurors requested transcripts from the testimonies of Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend and Daniel Phillips, a male escort involved in a “Freak Off” sexual event hosted by the music producer.
Specifically, they asked for Ventura’s testimony on the 2016 incident in which Combs is seen brutally beating his former girlfriend at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. They also asked for her testimony regarding Combs’ threat to release “Freak Off” videos of her while they were on a flight home from the Cannes Film Festival.
They also asked for Phillips’ testimony about the “Freak Offs” he had with Ventura. Phillip had testified that the music producer had paid him to have sex with Ventura while Combs watched.
He also testified that he witnessed Combs assault Ventura in her apartment.
“I saw a liquor bottle fly across the room and hit the wall,” Phillip said. “Then Mr. Combs grabbed Cassie by the hair and started dragging her. … Mr. Combs pulled her into the bedroom. It sounded like him slapping her.”
Jury asks about drug distribution
Jurors also asked the judge to clarify the legal definition of drug distribution, specifically whether handing over controlled substances upon request constitutes distribution.
“Referring to page 37 of the jury charge: If a recipient wants, requests, or asks for controlled substances, and an individual hands over controlled substances to the requester, has the individual who hands over the controlled substances distributed?” the jury wrote.
Jury said they have ‘concern’ regarding Juror 25
The jury hit a potential roadblock one hour into deliberations Monday. The foreperson sent a note to Judge Arun Subramanian, saying a juror might be having issues following instructions the judge had just read to them.
Referring to Juror 25, the note said, “We are concerned (the juror) cannot follow your honor’s instructions,” the foreperson said in a note to the judge.
Subramanian responded, instructing the panel to deliberate and to follow his instructions.
The case was handed over to a jury of eight men and four women after Subramanian read instructions on the law and elements required to convict Combs.
Jurors have been provided with a laptop loaded with all of the exhibits shown in court, including text messages, photographs and videos of the sexual encounters at the heart of the case.
What happened during Diddy’s trial?
The trial brought forth several former employees of Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment companies, but its most noteworthy witnesses were two of his former partners — singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and “Jane,” a social media influencer who testified under a pseudonym.
The women said they felt pressured to engage in hundreds of sexual events, dubbed “Freak Offs” or “hotel nights,” with sex workers. These encounters were often filmed.
In their closing statements, the government painted Combs’ criminal enterprise as his “kingdom.”
While the prosecution presented a robust case, defense attorneys wrapped up theirs within hours, calling no witnesses.
Much of their argument rested on the theory that the accusers were consenting adults and were not forced to participate in Combs’ sexual events.
They relied largely on text messages between Combs and his ex-partners to show the women were willing and even arranged for the sexual encounters at times.
Defense attorneys used their closing statements to call Combs’ prosecution overkill, saying that he was being put on trial for his sexual proclivities and lifestyle choices.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.