The jury has begun deliberating in the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial, as the disgraced music mogul’s fate rests in the hands of eight men and four women.
Combs is pleading not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. The deliberation process — which will determine whether he is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt on any or all of the charges — could take several days.
If convicted on the racketeering charge, Combs faces a possible life sentence in prison. The sex trafficking charges carry a minimum sentence of 15 years, and the transportation to engage in prostitution charges have a maximum of 10 years.
On Monday morning, Judge Arun Subramanian spent more than two hours delivering detailed instructions to the jurors on how they should interpret and rule on the charges. The jury was sent outside of the courtroom and instructed to select a foreperson.
Wrapping up the day’s proceedings, the judge praised Combs’ defense attorneys and federal prosecutors. “The case was really exceptionally tried by both sides,” he said at the end of a grueling, seven-week trial. He said he observed “great lawyering,” and he commended the parties for providing “younger attorneys” with “real opportunities” in the case.
Before dismissing the court, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked if Combs could be permitted to bring books back into the holding cell while he waits for the verdict. (On a few occasions, Combs has been seen reading inside the courtroom.) The judge granted his request.
Last week, attorneys from both sides presented closing arguments that lasted about five hours each. Prosecutors painted Combs as the leader of a criminal enterprise who relied on his power and “inner circle” of employees to commit crimes such as sex trafficking. The defense argued that Combs was simply part of a “swingers lifestyle,” and that his drug-fueled sex parties known as “freak-offs” were entirely consensual.
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