Online Reporter
NEW YORK. – A jury of 12 New Yorkers began deliberations in the sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs yesterday.
After weeks of graphic testimony from dozens of witnesses in the Manhattan federal court, including Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, the panel of jurors will decide the music mogul’s fate.
Judge Arun Subramanian instructed jurors on how they should consider the charges against Diddy and whether he is guilty or not, in a process known as “charging the jury” yesterday morning.
He then sent them back to the jury room for deliberations.
In their closing argument Thursday, prosecutors outlined an alleged cycle of sexual exploitation, physical abuse, and psychological manipulation allegedly orchestrated by Diddy.
On Friday, lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo rebuked the government for having “badly, badly exaggerated” the case against his client.
Diddy is facing two counts of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, and one count of racketeering conspiracy.
He was arrested in September last year as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024.
For jurors to find Diddy guilty of sex trafficking, the government needed to prove that he transported one person to another place with reckless disregard that caused a person to engage in commercial sex acts.
Diddy 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.
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 Diddy co-conspired to commit arson, transportation to engage in prostitution, kidnapping, bribery of a witness, sex trafficking, forced labour, 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 labour 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.—The Independent
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