Diddy trial: Jurors reach verdict on four of five counts, judge indicates they'll keep deliberating

The Hill

6 hours ago

(NewsNation) — A 12-member jury has reached a verdict on four of five counts in the criminal case against Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
The jury said in a note to Judge Arun Subramanian received shortly after 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday that it was unable to reach a decision on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy. The note said the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge because there were jurors with 'unpersuadable views' on both sides.
The judge indicated that he would instruct the jury to continue weighing the charge, echoing the sentiments of prosecutors and Combs' defense team that just two days into deliberations was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts.
On Monday, jurors deliberated for more than five hours, returning several notes to Subramanian with questions, concerns, and requests.
On Tuesday, jurors requested transcripts from the testimonies of Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, Comb's former girlfriend and Daniel Phillips, a male escort involved in a 'Freak Off' sexual event the music producer was involved in.
Specifically, they asked for Ventura's testimony on the 2016 incident where 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.'
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.
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.
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.
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.