Diddy verdict live: Jury reaches a decision on some counts in sex trafficking trial

Key points

• Jury deliberate for second day after failing to reach verdict
• Who are the jurors set to decide Diddy's fate?
• Judge clears up jury's concern around RICO charge
• Here's what happened yesterday

Both sides wish for jurors to keep deliberating

Both the prosecution and defense want the jurors to keep deliberating, after reaching verdicts on some counts.

Agreements have been reached on counts 2, 3, 4 and 5 (sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution), however jurors remain on count 1 – R.I.C.O.

Diddy’s lead attorney Marc Agnifilo said the defense would like the judge to bring out the jury to instruct them to continue deliberating.

The judge has offered to give jurors a modified Allen charge – essentially ordering them to continue but with modified wording if necessary.

BREAKING: Jury reaches verdicts on some counts

Jurors in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs have reached verdicts on some counts, but not all.

A note passed to the judge at at 4:05 p.m. read “we have reached a verdict on Counts 2, 3, 4 and 5. We are unable to reach a verdict on Count 1 as we have jurors on each side. How should be respond?” per Inner City Press.

Stay tuned.

Diddy brought back in for new juror note

Sean Combs has been brought back into court, after jurors sent another note to the judge.

Jury has been deliberating for over 12 hours

The jury has now been deliberating for over 12 hours.

Deliberations in the Diddy trial began at around 11.30 a.m. yesterday and they left around 5 p.m. ET.

They began again today at 9 a.m.

Since then they have sent several notes to the judge, though we’re still waiting to hear back about an official verdict.

In pictures: Diddy in the courtroom as jurors deliberate

Defense attorneys discuss with Combs how to respond to a note sent by jurors (REUTERS)

What is Diddy’s life like in jail?

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the music mogul at the center of a bombshell sex trafficking trial in New York, has been behind bars for nearly 300 days.

Combs, 55, was arrested on September 16, 2024 and faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The music mogul’s weeks-long trial has centered around the testimony of women who described years of physical and sexual abuse by Combs.

But what conditions is he living in while awaiting the jurors’ verdict?

Katie Hawkinson investigates:

Abuser, cheater, charmer: Diddy’s trial revealed the many faces of the ‘freak-off’-loving impresario

For many criminal defendants, courtroom reveals boil down to a nice business suit, occasional facial expressions and few words being uttered in public.

For Sean “Diddy” Combs, it’s not that simple.

Kelly Rissman, who has been at court every day, looks at the many faces of the music mogul, that have emerged during his high-profile trial:

Updates from inside the courtroom

Kelly Rissman reports that attorneys have now agreed to include Cassie’s testimony from March 3 to 8 2016 – shortly after the incident at the LA INterContinental hotel.

Judge Subramanian has also allowed the defense’s suggestion to include Cassie’s Instagram post from 2024 after the hotel footage came out via CNN.

Diddy’s sons have now arrived to support their father in court.

Watch: Diddy's mom arrives in court for second day of deliberations

'A freako is not a R.I.C.O' shirts being handed out

Someone is handing out some... interesting shirts outside the courtroom.

The blue tees are emblazoned with the words “A freako is not a rico.” It’s not hard to guess which side this man is rooting for.

A man hands out free T-shirts outside of Diddy's trial in New York (Kelly Rissman)

What did the jury ask for in its second note?

Kelly Rissman, in the courtroom, has the exact details of the juror’s note to judge Subramanian:

The are requesting:

1) Cassie’s testimony regarding the intercontinental hotel

2) Cassie testimony regarding the Cannes trip and the events immediately following

3) Cassie testimony regarding interactions/ “freak-offs” with Daniel Phillip

4) Phillip’s testimony about being at the Essex hotel with Cassie

Jury asking for testimony of Cassie and Daniel Phillips

The jury is asking for the testimony of Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura as relating to two incidents, one at the Los Angeles InterContinental hotel and one in Cannes.

They are also asking for the testimony of Daniel Phillip, a male stripper who claimed he was forced to have sex with Cassie while the mogul watched.

Diddy is back in the room

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been brought back into the courtroom, according to Inner City Press.

The mogul is conferring with his lead lawyer Marc Agnifilo.

It comes after the jury delivered their second note to the judge, requesting two witness testimony transcripts.

Jury ask for witness testimony

We know what was in the note.

According to prosecutor Maurene Comey, the jury is asking for transcripts of two witnesses' testimony – though it’s unclear who.

Jury sends judge another note

Per CNN, the jury has just sent another note to the judge.

Lawyers for both sides are reentering the courtroom now. We’ll let you know what that’s about when we know.

Everyone tense inside the courtroom

The Independent’s Kelly Rissman reports that everyone seems tense inside the courtroom this morning, as deliberations continue for a second day.

The only family member present in the courtroom today is Diddy’s mom.

We’ll bring you any updates as soon as we have them.

Diddy comforts mom as he heads back to cell: 'Just relax'

The jury is continuing its second day of deliberations after this morning’s brief court session was adjourned.

Before leaving the courtroom with the marshal, Combs leaned over to his mother in the gallery to alert her he was heading back to his cell.

“Just relax,” Combs told her, according to CNN. “It’s going to be alright.”

Combs also complimented his mother on her green and cream zebra print outfit (picture below).

How has the judge defined drug distribution in RICO-related charge?

Diddy's mom only family member at court today

With rows of family and friends packed in behind the defense table yesterday, it’s just Diddy’s mother, Janice Combs, who made the trip to Manhattan federal court this morning.

Janice Combs arrives at a U.S. federal court for her son's sex trafficking trial on Tuesday morning (REUTERS)

Court clears up jury's question around RICO charge

Judge Arun Subramanian has addressed the jury’s concern over the drug distribution element of the racketeering conspiracy charge raised towards the end of Monday’s deliberations.

In a note, the jury asked whether an individual can be found responsible for distributing drugs to someone who asked for them.

Subramanian responded this morning that he is sticking with his proposed language around the definition on page 37 of the jury instructions.

While the defense wanted to give jurors a broader legal context around drug offenses, Subramanian, visibly frustrated, replied, “That’s not the question the jury asked.”

“I have an obligation to answer the jury’s question,” he continued. “It would be improper to leave the jury at sea if they asked a direct question.”

Could a verdict come today?

This morning marks the second day of jury deliberations, and a key question remains: will jurors reach a verdict today?

On Monday, the jury raised two concerns with the court – a possible early indicator of the challenges they may face in weighing the case.

With testimony from 34 witnesses and a legally complex racketeering charge at its core, the deliberation process may take time. There is no set timeline: deliberations can last anywhere from a few hours to several days (or even longer).

How long could Diddy spend in prison if guilty?

Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing two charges of sex trafficking, two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution and a racketeering conspiracy charge.

Combs faces up to life in prison if he is convicted on the racketeering charge.

If he is found guilty of sex trafficking, he faces another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years.

Transportation to engage in prostitution typically carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Recap: Here's what happened yesterday

A jury of 12 New Yorkers finished their first day of deliberations in the sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs on Monday.

After weeks of graphic testimony from dozens of witnesses in Manhattan federal court, including Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, the panel of jurors will decide the music mogul’s fate.

Judge Arun Subramanian instructed jurors on how they should consider the charges against Combs and whether he is guilty or not, in a process known as “charging the jury” on Monday morning. He then sent them back to the jury room for deliberations.

Shortly after, the jury sent a note to the judge, claiming one juror was unable to follow his instructions. Subramanian sent a note back, encouraging jurors to continue deliberating and reminding them of their obligation to follow his instructions.

The jury raised the concern near the end of Monday’s deliberations and asked whether an individual can be found responsible for distributing drugs at the behest of someone who asked for them. Subramanian said he would provide an answer on Tuesday morning

Here are the charges against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs could soon learn his fate in a trial that has accused him of racketeering and sex trafficking.

It comes nearly 10 months after prosecutors in Manhattan initially unveiled a three-count criminal indictment against Combs, accusing him of engaging in transportation for prostitution and conspiracy over more than 17 years.

A jury of 12 is now deliberating the charges against the mogul after hearing seven weeks of testimony in a New York federal courtroom.

Ariana Baio looks at the charges against Diddy and what they mean:

How do jury deliberations work?

Judge Arun Subramanian gave instructions to the jurors on Monday before sending them off to deliberate.

The jury of eight men and four women must unanimously decide whether Combs is guilty or not guilty on each count.

Combs is facing two charges of sex trafficking, two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution and a racketeering conspiracy charge. Prosecutors have outlined 10 predicate acts to support the racketeering conspiracy charge and the jury must find that at least two were committed to return a conviction.

All 12 jurors must agree. If jurors don’t reach an agreement, they could come back and say they are deadlocked.

Traditionally, the judge would then encourage them to continue deliberating, but if they can’t reach a consensus, it would be up to the judge to decide whether to declare a mistrial.

In sketches: Diddy turns to family and friends as jurors began deliberating

Judge to address jury's over central legal concern this morning

Judge Arun Subramanian is expected to address the jury’s concern over the drug distribution element of the racketeering conspiracy charge – a central legal issue in Combs’s case.

The jury raised the concern near the end of Monday’s deliberations and asked whether an individual can be found responsible for distributing drugs at the behest of someone who asked for them.

Subramanian said he would provide an answer on Tuesday morning.

The government has proposed 10 predicate acts – a specific crime that forms part of a larger criminal pattern – that support the racketeering conspiracy charge.

The jury must unanimously find that at least two of those acts listed were committed to convict Combs of the specific charge.

What is Diddy’s life like in jail?

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the music mogul at the center of a bombshell sex trafficking trial in New York, has been behind bars at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center for nearly 300 days.

Combs, 55, was arrested on September 16, 2024, and faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

While some have described the prison as “hell on Earth,” Katie Hawkinson details what life is like for Combs behind bars:

Jury to deliberate for a second day after failing to reach verdict

A jury is set to return to deliberate for a second day inside Manhattan federal court Tuesday at the sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.

On Monday, jurors deliberated for five and a half hours without reaching a verdict after receiving instructions on the law from Judge Arun Subramanian.

The 12 New Yorkers on the jury are deciding whether prosecutors have proven sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges during the eight-week-long trial that began in May.

Day one of deliberations got off to rocky start as jurors expressed 'concern'

Eight weeks into the blockbuster trial, the jury finally started to deliberate Monday on the case.

Judge Arun Subramanian spent two hours reading through jury instructions in the morning before the jurors began deliberating at 11.30 a.m.

Just over an hour later, the group sent a note to the judge: “We are concerned that Juror 25 cannot follow your honor’s instructions.”

Subramanian said he was unclear whether “cannot” meant the juror refuses to follow the instructions or cannot understand them.

After giving both sides 10 minutes to propose a response, the judge opted to use the government’s language, telling the panel to keep deliberating and to let him know if the issue persisted.

Kelly Rissman has more:

Who are the jurors set to decide Diddy's fate?

As jury deliberations are set to continue for a second day in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal sex trafficking trial, here’s a look at the 12 members of the panel tasked with deciding the music mogul’s fate.

Eight men and four women comprise the dozen New Yorkers selected to sit for the trial.

Ranging in age from 30 to 74, the jurors hail from Manhattan, the Bronx, and nearby Westchester County.

Their professions vary widely: from an investment analyst to a massage therapist.

Several of the younger jurors said they listen to hip-hop and R&B music, genres aligned with Combs.

Some of the jurors have said they were familiar with the 2016 surveillance footage of Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.