Latest news with #juror
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Very high bar': Diddy alternate juror speaks out after verdict
NEW YORK (PIX11) – For the first time since the Sean 'Diddy' Combs verdict, one of the jurors is speaking out. In an exclusive interview with PIX11 News, alternate juror 'George' is sharing his insight into the panel's decision and offering a behind-the-scenes look at the highs and lows of the sensational eight-week trial. More Local News 'Overall, to prove it was a criminal enterprise was a very high bar,' George said. George served as an alternate during the trial. After sitting through nearly two months of testimony, he was sent home just before deliberations began. Asked what he thought of the final verdict, George said, 'I understood the verdict.' When asked what he would say to those who believe the jury got it wrong, he responded, 'The charges on sex trafficking were difficult, and the standard of proof was really high.' George said he would have voted to convict on the two transportation in prostitution charges, too. 'The prosecution presented receipts, flight records — that was easy,' he said. Only the 12 jurors and six alternates were shown videos of the so-called 'freak offs' in court, which George said supported the prosecution's case. 'Some were just rubbing oil, and some were more graphic,' he recalled. When asked if he believed the women involved were willing participants, George pointed to certain messages. 'There were text messages that said there was love — the highs were high and the lows were low,' he said. One of the most impactful moments in the courtroom, he said, came when prosecutors played the video of Cassie Ventura being beaten inside the InterContinental Hotel. 'It was a very shocking video to see — overall beating,' he said. When asked about the most compelling testimony, George named two witnesses. 'The testimony of Jane and Cassie was very emotional,' he said. As for the least effective, George said the defense created doubts around some. 'The defense put some holes in Dawn Richard. I think Bana [Bongolan] was another one…Capricorn [Clark],' he said. Despite Combs' presence in the courtroom and his occasional rebukes from the judge for his body language toward the jury, George said he never felt intimidated. 'You could tell he was fighting for himself,' he said. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State George said he feels good about fulfilling his civic duty in such a high-profile case and offered praise for everyone involved. 'It was exhausting. It's good to be finished with it and move on,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
CNN Exclusive: Listen to what an alternate juror in the Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial has to say
Watch Laura Coates' full exclusive interview with an alternate juror from the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial. He talks about what happened in the courtroom and what he thought of both the prosecution and the defense.
CNN
03-07-2025
- CNN
CNN Exclusive: Listen to what an alternate juror in the Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial has to say
Laura Coates interviews an alternate juror in Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial. Hear what he has to say about what happened in the courtroom, behind closed doors and how jurors reacted to the trial.
CNN
03-07-2025
- CNN
CNN Exclusive: Listen to what an alternate juror in the Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial has to say
Laura Coates interviews an alternate juror in Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial. Hear what he has to say about what happened in the courtroom, behind closed doors and how jurors reacted to the trial.
New York Times
03-07-2025
- New York Times
Alternate Juror at the Sean Combs Trial: ‘I Understand' the Verdict
An alternate juror in Sean Combs's federal trial said in an interview that he agreed with the jury's verdict, which found the music mogul not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Combs was convicted of two counts of a lesser charge, transportation to engage in prostitution, and remains detained while he awaits sentencing. 'I understand how my fellow jurors came to that conclusion,' the alternate, a Manhattan man named George, said in an interview on Thursday with The New York Times. As an alternate, George was not present for the deliberations by the jury of eight men and four women who reached the verdict, though he was seated in the jury box for the entirety of the case, and said he took some 350 pages of notes. He described the panel as a collegial group that ate lunches together and followed the judge's rules not to discuss the case until they had been told to decide on a verdict. The jury reached its verdict on Wednesday morning after about 13 and a half hours of deliberations. The jurors in the case were granted anonymity by the judge to protect their privacy in a high-profile trial. The Times is publishing only George's first name because of his concern that people would seek him out for harassment. No other jurors have spoken publicly about the case. To corroborate George's identity, The Times examined public records and his social media accounts, and questioned him about his answers to the judge during the public jury-selection process. He also shared an image of the juror badge given to him by the court. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
