The trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs has entered the verdict phase with a tense start, as the jury that will decide his fate has been involved in discord since the first hours of deliberations.
After six weeks of testimony and evidence in Federal Court in New York, just two hours after the case was handed over to the jury, a note was sent to the judge, in which the members expressed concern that one of their number was not following the court's instructions. Without giving many details, Judge Arun Subramanian responded with a formal reminder of the jury's responsibility.
Diddy is facing five felony charges: sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution and participation in a criminal organization, to which he has pleaded not guilty. During the trial, prosecutors brought 34 witnesses, including former employees, ex-partners and people who accuse him of abusive behavior, describing an entire system in which Diddy used his influence to manipulate, coerce and abuse women in scenarios called “freak offs” – extended orgies with escorts and drugs.
One of the most important testimonies was that of singer Cassie (Casandra Ventura), who described her 11-year relationship with Diddy as violent and psychologically destructive. She revealed that at first she would agree to participate in "freak offs" to make him happy, but later she needed substances to disconnect from reality.
A video obtained by a luxury Los Angeles hotel, which was presented in court, showed Diddy chasing Cassie down the hallway, throwing her to the ground, and kicking her. He then allegedly paid $100,000 to buy the video from hotel employees, claiming that releasing it would "ruin his career."
His defense did not bring any witnesses and concluded its case within hours. Diddy's lawyers relied on the prosecution's rebuttal, portraying the events as part of a personal, albeit troubled, relationship, rather than organized crime. They acknowledged that there was violence in the relationship, but denied any involvement in sex trafficking or mafia activities.
Lawyers have been instructed to decide whether there is evidence of the existence of a criminal organization in which Diddy played a leading role and committed at least two illegal acts as part of it, including kidnapping, arson, bribery and witness tampering.
The maximum sentence for the main charges is life imprisonment. The jury was seen underlining parts of the judge's instructions and taking notes, but the atmosphere among them appeared fragile.
The future of one of the biggest figures in the music industry hangs in the balance, and if the jury fails to reach a clear decision, the entire process risks being repeated. Meanwhile, Diddy remains silent, without testifying, awaiting the final verdict in a case that could mark the end of an era for him.
Source: NBC News
