Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial, will keep deliberating
The panel remains deadlocked on the racketeering charge faced by the former hip-hop star
The jury at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial has reached a verdict on four of the five counts the music mogul faces, the judge overseeing the case said on Tuesday, without revealing the outcome.
After two days of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict on four charges: two counts of sex trafficking and two of transport to engage in prostitution, US District Judge Arun Subramanian announced.
But the judge said the jury had not been able to reach a verdict on a fifth charge, racketeering conspiracy, because jurors had “unpersuadable opinions on both sides”.
He instructed the jury to continue deliberating on the racketeering conspiracy count. The jury will resume deliberations at 9am on Wednesday.
Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty to all five counts. If convicted of sex trafficking or racketeering, the former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture could face life in prison.
Before Subramanian read the jury’s note, Combs rubbed his eyes and rested his face against his palm while seated at the defence table with his lawyers huddled around him.
One defence lawyer, Brian Steel, rubbed Combs’ shoulder. Two of Combs’ other defence lawyers put their arms around each other.