Jury in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs sex trial asks to review Cassie's evidence
The panel of eight men and four women asked for Cassie's account of Combs beating, kicking and dragging her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 — an assault captured on security camera footage.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
They also asked to see Cassie's evidence about an incident in which she said Combs accused her of taking drugs from him and kicked her off their yacht at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013. On their way back to the US, she said, he threatened to release explicit videos of her having sex.
In addition, the jury asked for Cassie and stripper Daniel Phillip's evidence about her jumping into his lap at a New York City hotel after, as Mr Phillip testified, he suspected Combs had been slapping and slamming her around an adjacent room.
'Her whole entire body was shaking, like she was terrified,' said Mr Phillip, who was at the hotel for a sexual encounter with Cassie some time between 2012 and 2014.
He told the court that he asked Cassie, the R&B singer whose real name is Casandra Ventura, why she was with Combs if he was hitting her and beating her. He said he told her she was in real danger.
He added that Cassie 'basically tried to convince me that it was OK, 'it's OK. I'm fine, I'll be OK''.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs (centre) in court (Elizabeth Williams/AP
The jury's evidence request came soon after Combs' lawyers and prosecutors began the day haggling with Judge Arun Subramanian over a jury question left over from the end of the first day of deliberations on Monday.
Jurors wanted clarification about what qualifies as drug distribution, an aspect of the racketeering conspiracy charge that will help determine whether Combs can be convicted or exonerated on the count.
Judge Subramanian said he would remind jurors of the instructions he gave them on that part of the case before they started deliberating on Monday. Combs' lawyers had pushed for a more expansive response, but prosecutors argued — and Judge Subramanian agreed — that doing so could end up confusing jurors more.
On Monday, the panel deliberated for more than five hours without reaching a verdict.
Defence lawyers say prosecutors are trying to criminalise Combs' swinger lifestyle. If anything, they say, his conduct amounted to domestic violence not federal felonies.
The 55-year-old could face 15 years in prison to life behind bars if he is convicted of all charges.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offence but acquitted on Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, that could have put one of hip-hop's most celebrated figures behind bars for life. The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations. It could still send Combs, 55, to prison, for as long as a decade, and is likely to end his career as a hitmaking music executive, fashion entrepreneur, brand ambassador and reality TV star. Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends, and paid male sex workers to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act. But the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, related to allegations that he used his money, power and frightening physical force to manipulate his girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fuelled sex marathons with the men. Combs and his defence team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges. The jury foreperson confirmed the verdict reached was unanimous. After they read the verdict, Combs held his hands up in a prayer motion, looking at the jury, and hugged his defence lawyer Teny Geragos. After the verdict was read, the judge gave the jury guidance on speaking about the case to the media, to the public and more. Combs continuing to pump his right fist subtly, seemingly satisfied that he was acquitted on the most serious charges. Combs seemed buoyant arriving in the courtroom earlier Wednesday, a contrast to his mood a day earlier after he learned that the jury had reached a yet-to-be-disclosed verdict on all but one of the five charges he faced. Combs smiled and clasped his hands together in the air toward his family and supporters before hugging several of his lawyers and sitting down to await the outcome of the jury's third day of deliberations. A short while later, Combs, his head bowed, stood several feet from his family for less than a minute as they sat with their heads bowed in prayer. As they did on Monday, Combs and family members then applauded before he was led from the courtroom. The family later got in a van and left the court.
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offence but acquitted on Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, that could have put one of hip-hop's most celebrated figures behind bars for life. The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations. It could still send Combs, 55, to prison, for as long as a decade, and is likely to end his career as a hitmaking music executive, fashion entrepreneur, brand ambassador and reality TV star. Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends, and paid male sex workers to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act. But the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, related to allegations that he used his money, power and frightening physical force to manipulate his girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fuelled sex marathons with the men. Combs and his defence team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges. The jury foreperson confirmed the verdict reached was unanimous. After they read the verdict, Combs held his hands up in a prayer motion, looking at the jury, and hugged his defence lawyer Teny Geragos. After the verdict was read, the judge gave the jury guidance on speaking about the case to the media, to the public and more. Combs continuing to pump his right fist subtly, seemingly satisfied that he was acquitted on the most serious charges. Combs seemed buoyant arriving in the courtroom earlier Wednesday, a contrast to his mood a day earlier after he learned that the jury had reached a yet-to-be-disclosed verdict on all but one of the five charges he faced. Combs smiled and clasped his hands together in the air toward his family and supporters before hugging several of his lawyers and sitting down to await the outcome of the jury's third day of deliberations. A short while later, Combs, his head bowed, stood several feet from his family for less than a minute as they sat with their heads bowed in prayer. As they did on Monday, Combs and family members then applauded before he was led from the courtroom. The family later got in a van and left the court. On Tuesday, US district judge Arun Subramanian had ordered the jury to continue its closed-door discussions for a third day after they said they were unable to reach consensus on the top count: racketeering conspiracy. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Sean 'Diddy' Combs convicted on prostitution counts, but found not guilty of more serious sex trafficking charges
Combs was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, a partial win for the former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture. Prosecutors say Combs for two decades used his business empire to force two of his romantic partners to take part in drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances sometimes known as "Freak Offs" with male sex workers in hotel rooms while Combs watched, masturbated and occasionally filmed. During raids of Combs' homes, authorities found drugs and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant that he would use in the performances, prosecutors said. Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty to all five counts. His lawyers acknowledged that the Bad Boy Records founder, once famed for hosting lavish parties for the cultural elite in luxurious locales like the Hamptons and Saint-Tropez, was at times violent in his domestic relationships. But they said the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual. The seven-week trial in Manhattan federal court exposed the inner workings of Combs' business empire and gave the 12-member jury an intimate look into his volatile romantic relationships with the rhythm and blues singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane. On Tuesday, US District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered the jury to continue its closed-door discussions for a third day after the panel of eight men and four women said it was unable to reach consensus on the top count: racketeering conspiracy. The judge agreed with prosecutors and Combs' defence team that less than 13 hours of deliberations was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts. The jury's decision on the other charges — two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution — remains under wraps for now. In a note to the court late Tuesday, the jury said 'unpersuadable opinions on both sides' among some jurors had prevented the group from reaching a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge. Racketeering conspiracy is the most complicated charge in the trial and carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. The sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The disclosure of the jury note about the partial verdict seemed to put defence attorneys and their client in a dour mood even before it was read in open court by the judge. Eight defence lawyers formed a half-circle behind Combs as the smiles and lighthearted mood that accompanied the arrival of other jury notes over two days seemed absent as the attorneys contemplated the possibility that jurors had reached agreement on counts that carry the heaviest sentencing penalties. Combs, 55, appeared morose as his lawyers spoke with him. At one point, the hip-hop mogul solemnly read a piece of paper that attorney Marc Agnifilo handed to him. After the jury came in for instructions and then exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a few minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his relatives and supporters in the audience, blew a kiss and tapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day. Then he paused before his mother and exchanged a few words, telling her, 'Love you' and 'I'll be all right.' Marshals then led him from the room. Earlier in their deliberations the jury asked to review testimony from Cassie, the R&B singer who was Diddy's former longtime girlfriend, as well as from Daniel Phillip, a male stripper Diddy is accused of paying to have sex with Cassie. Prosecutors say Combs coerced two girlfriends into drug-fuelled sex marathons with male sex workers. Lawyers for the Bad Boy Records founder contend prosecutors are trying to criminalise Combs' swinger lifestyle. They say his conduct, if anything, amounted to domestic violence, not federal felonies.
