Latest news with #JudgeSubramanian
CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
Jury has verdict in 4 of 5 counts against Sean 'Diddy' Combs, judge indicates they'll keep deliberating
The jury in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial said Tuesday (July 1) that it has reached a verdict on four of five counts against the hip-hop mogul, but is as yet unable to decide on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy. The judge indicated that he would instruct the jury to continue weighing the charge, echoing the sentiments of prosecutors and Combs' defence team that just two days into deliberations was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts. Judge Arun Subramanian said he received a note on Tuesday afternoon from the jury saying they had reached a partial verdict, but were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge because there were jurors with 'unpersuadable views' on both sides. Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey suggested the judge give the jury a modified version of what's known as an Allen charge – instructions encouraging them to keep deliberating after reaching an impasse. RACKETEERING IS THE MOST COMPLICATED CHARGE Racketeering conspiracy – count 1 on the jury's verdict sheet – is the most complicated of the charges against Combs because it requires the jury to decide not only whether he ran a 'racketeering enterprise', but also whether he was involved in committing some or all of various types of offenses, such as kidnapping and arson. The charge falls under RICO – the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act – which is best known for being used in organised crime and drug cartel cases. The jury has been deliberating since Monday. Earlier on Tuesday, they asked to review critical testimony from one of the prosecution's most important witnesses: The hip-hop mogul's former longtime girlfriend, Cassie. Jurors requested the testimony about 75 minutes into their second day of weighing charges that Combs used his fame, wealth and violence to force two girlfriends into drug-fuelled sex marathons with male sex workers known as 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights.' 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 now-infamous security camera footage. They also asked to see Cassie's testimony 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 France 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 testimony about her jumping into his lap at a New York City hotel after, as 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 Phillip, who was at the hotel for a sexual encounter with Cassie sometime between 2012 and 2014.
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- News.com.au
Live updates in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' trial as jury deliberates
Jury members in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex-trafficking trial have been ordered to deliberate further after failing to reach a decision on one count. On day two of deliberations following the music mogul's six-week trial in New York, the 12-person panel had decided on four out of five counts but couldn't agree on the charge of racketeering conspiracy, resulting in a hung-jury. In a note sent to the judge at 4pm, local time, the judge was informed that members were deadlocked, with their opinions 'unpersuadable', per CNN. Members had reached a partial verdict, agreeing on the charges of sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura, transportation for prostitution of Ms Ventura and others, sex trafficking of 'Jane', and finally, transportation for prostitution of 'Jane' and others. Lawyers for the defence and prosecution pushed the judge to instruct jury members to continue deliberating on the racketeering conspiracy charge. A jury in a criminal trial in most U.S. jurisdictions, including New York, must be unanimous. There was a fair bit of back-and-forth between Judge Arun Subramanian and lawyers for both the defence and prosecution to determine next steps. Combs' lawyer Marc Agnifilo asked the judge to gently instruct the jury to continue deliberations, while the prosecution questioned if the judge would enforce the 'Allen' charge, also known as the 'dynamite' charge, which is used when jurors are unable to reach a verdict. The 'Allen' charge is a strategy to encourage jurors to re-evaluate their positions in order to reach a decision, though it's considered to be a controversial move, with some believing it pushes members to change their existing stances. The jury was soon brought into the courtroom where Judge Subramanian advised members to continue their deliberations. Shortly afterwards, the jury sent a note instructing they had finished deliberations for the day and would continue tomorrow from 9am, local time. Press in the courtroom have described the scenes as 'tense', reporting Combs sat surrounded by his lawyers who were comforting him. CNN reports Combs, at one point, whispered to his six adult children seated in the second row behind him. He was heard telling his mother, Janice, 'I'll be alright. Love you.'
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
Diddy trial jurors face unrealistic expectations, failure to sequester was a mistake: expert
Jury deliberations stalled early Monday in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial for sex crimes when a juror had a difficult time following instructions given by Judge Arun Subramanian. Multiple notes were sent back from the jury only hours after Judge Subramanian provided detailed instructions for the 12 jurors deciding Diddy's fate. The "Last Night" rapper's trial previously faced issues within the jury pool when the judge dismissed one juror in early June, while another juror was under scrutiny, but remained on the case. Problems within the jury could have been avoided, according to attorney David S. Seltzer, who told Fox News Digital that simply sequestering the jurors throughout the duration of the seven-week trial could have prevented additional issues reaching a verdict. "I don't see how people are not influenced by outside factors," Seltzer said. "We live in a technology world where everyone wants their information now. I know the jury was instructed not to read anything, but I don't think that was realistic given the length of the trial." Seltzer noted that not sequestering the jury was a mistake. "I have been saying from day one that it is impossible to tell people to stay off media and/or computers for six weeks-plus, when people are addicted to their devices. I think the court is relying on the admonishment, but respectfully turning a blind eye." WATCH: HARVEY WEINSTEIN'S FORMER LAWYER REVEALS QUESTIONS SHE'D WANT ANSWERS TO IN DIDDY TRIAL DELIBERATIONS The jury sent two notes to the court throughout the five and a half hours of deliberations. The first note from the jury claimed one juror could not follow Judge Arun Subramanian's instructions. After a lengthy discussion on what to send back to the jury, Judge Subramanian adopted the language for the note proposed by the prosecution. The note sent read, "I received your note. I remind every juror of their duty to deliberate and their obligation to follow my instruction on the law. With that instruction in mind, please continue deliberating." The note also explained not to include specific details about deliberations in any future notes. "Courts will always push a jury to get to a unanimous verdict, but at the end of the day, it is up to the jury if they think they can get there," Seltzer noted. "Often times when there are issues within the jury, they cannot get there, and it ends up in a hung jury." Right before the end of the court day, the jury asked for clarification regarding the alleged distribution of drugs. "If a recipient asks for a controlled substance, and another person hands it over to them, are they distributing?" The judge told the court that the jury would be given an answer on Tuesday. While sequestering a jury — essentially isolating the 12 jurors and six alternates assigned to the case from the outside world — can be challenging, the process may prove to be essential in eliminating external influences. Albany-based criminal defense attorney Paul DerOhannesian explained to Fox News Digital that jurors may have been swayed by the Internet and access to social media. "Unfortunately, courts are reluctant to utilize one of the few tools historically used to inoculate jurors against external sources of information during a trial or deliberations — sequestration," DerOhannesian said. "We did see sequestration of the jury in the Casey Anthony and OJ Simpson trials. Sequestration in a federal trial is virtually non-existent in recent history." WATCH: THE DIDDY CASE CAN 'ABSOLUTELY' BE RETRIED IF THERE IS A HUNG JURY, SAYS CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY John J. Perlstein, a Los Angeles litigator, admitted it would be "naïve to believe that jurors universally adhere to these instructions and not read up on the situation they find themselves in." "I don't believe that any jury needs to be sequestered unless it is a safety concern," Perlstein added. "The instructions are what they are. The jurors are admonished daily, and all one can hope is that they abide." Diddy remained in the courtroom for about 20 minutes after the judge decided to provide the jury with the government's proposed response to their first letter. He was sitting at the defense table with his attorneys. On his way out of the courtroom, he held up the two books he had with him. One is, "The Power of Positive Thinking." The other is "The Happiness Advantage." The jury was sent to deliberate around 11:30 a.m. ET by the federal judge after lengthy instructions. Authorities charged Diddy with racketeering, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face life in prison. A 12-person jury comprised of eight men and four women will make the decision on whether to convict Diddy of federal crimes or let the fallen music mogul walk free following a seven-week trial. Prosecutors began closing arguments Thursday with a focus on Diddy's alleged stance as the leader of a criminal enterprise, a point they've attempted to drive home to the jurors with more than 30 witness testimonies. The rapper's defense team, headed by Marc Agnifilo, argued Friday that the prosecution's evidence proved that the government was unfairly targeting Diddy and insisted he was innocent of the charges. If found guilty, the rapper faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Diddy has maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
Months Into Sean Combs's Trial, Jurors Are Ready to Deliberate
A jury in the federal trial of the music mogul Sean Combs will begin deliberating on Monday after receiving legal instructions from the judge in the complex sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy case. The panel, made up of eight men and four women, heard closing arguments from the government prosecutors on Thursday, followed by a presentation by the defense and a final rebuttal from the government on Friday. Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the trial, then opted to send the jurors home for the weekend so they could 'come back fresh on Monday morning' to receive his directions. The judge estimated it would take him a few hours to go over the fine points of the laws at the core of the government's case, a process known as 'charging the jury,' before the jurors could start deliberations. The anonymous group was not sequestered throughout the trial and spent the weekend at home following the passionate final pleas from both sides last week. 'You've heard the closing arguments, but I will ask you to continue to keep an open mind about the case,' Judge Subramanian told jurors on Friday, before adding the standard instructions he has given throughout the trial: 'Do not speak with each other about the case. Do not speak with anyone else about the case. Do not read or research or look up anything about the case.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Sun
7 days ago
- The Sun
Bombshell twist in Diddy trial as kidnapping and arson among claims DROPPED from testimony just before closing arguments
PROSECUTORS in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal case have filed a bombshell request to the judge a day before closing arguments were set to begin. In a stunning move by the government, federal prosecutors have removed instructions for jurors related to certain evidence and testimony tied to the racketeering charge Combs is facing. 1 Prosecutors said they're no longer going to argue the allegations of attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking, according to a letter filed to Judge Arun Subramanian on Wednesday, .
