Jury to get final instructions from judge as they decide Diddy's fate

BBC News

9 hours ago

Update:
Date: 14:17 BST
Title: Judge enters the courtroom
Content: Judge Arun Subramanian is here. He will soon start giving his instructions to the jury. This is expected to take more than an hour.
Afterwards, the jury will begin to deliberate.
Update:
Date: 14:14 BST
Title: Diddy's family arrive at court
Content: Sakshi VenkatramanReporting from court
A few of Combs' children have arrived at the Manhattan court.
We just saw his sons Quincy and Christian walk into the building.
His mother has been here every day of the trial as well.
In his closing statements, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo pointed out family members to the jurors, saying six of Combs' seven children were present, the seventh being his infant daughter.
Update:
Date: 14:11 BST
Title: Large crowds outside the courthouse
Content: Sakshi VenkatramanReporting from court
It's a hot and sunny day in Lower Manhattan. It's quite the contrast from two months ago when this trial started and the weather was cold and rainy.
Crowds of journalists and the general public are out in full force today, with cameras lining the street and influencers poised to stream to their social media followers.
Last week, the court had to open four overflow rooms in addition to the main courtroom to handle the number of people who wanted to watch proceedings.
Update:
Date: 13:35 BST
Title: Why Diddy did not testify in his own trial
Content: The defence team faced a dilemma during this trial: should they let their own client take the stand?
Last week, we heard directly from Sean Combs in court. Judge Arun Subramanian asked how he was doing.
Combs, 55, responded he was well. "You're doing an excellent job," he told the judge.
The judge asked him to if he would be taking the stand in his own defence. Combs said no.
"That is my decision, your honour," Combs said.
If he had, the entire case could have come down to his remarks, legal experts say.
Such a situation would be risky for the hip-hop mogul, as he would have to address many allegations of violence, some incidents of which have been filmed, Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told the BBC.
High-profile defendants in criminal trials typically do not take the stand, in order to avoid opening themselves up to cross-examination.
Update:
Date: 13:32 BST
Title: How long could Diddy spend in jail if he is found guilty?
Content: If convicted on the racketeering charge, Combs faces up to life in prison.
He faces another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years if he is found guilty of sex trafficking.
Transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Combs has denied all charges against him.
Update:
Date: 13:32 BST
Title: Diddy's fate will soon be in the hands of 12 jurors
Content: Madeline HalpertReporting from court
Good morning from federal court in Manhattan.
Today begins the end of the two-month sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.
The judge will spend a little over an hour instructing the jury on how to deliberate over the five charges that Combs faces.
Lawyers spent hours last week discussing exactly what Judge Arun Subramanian should tell them in accordance with the law.
After those instructions, the case will finally be in the hands of the jurors, who will take into account testimony from more than 30 witnesses, graphic videos and pages of text messages.
Combs could face life in prison if convicted of the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.