logo
Diddy trial live: Diddy jury deliberating final charge after reaching partial verdict

Diddy trial live: Diddy jury deliberating final charge after reaching partial verdict

Sky News3 days ago
Latest from court Diddy trial jurors reach verdict on four counts
These are the sex-trafficking charges and transportation for prostitution charges
No verdict yet on the racketeering charge
Jurors to continue deliberating today
Updates by culture and entertainment reporter Gemma Peplow Full story
What is racketeering conspiracy?
Count 1 on the prosecution's indictment against Sean "Diddy" Combs is the most complicated of the five charges - racketeering conspiracy, which covers a number of alleged crimes.
This is the one jurors are split on.
Racketeering broadly means engaging in a criminal scheme or enterprise, and the charge falls under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO) in the US.
According to the US justice department's definition of RICO statute, it is also illegal to "conspire to violate" the laws, and this is what Combs is accused of, over 20 years from 2004 until his arrest last year.
Racketeering conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, Judge Arun Subramanian has said. This doesn't have to be a formal agreement, but can be a mutual understanding, spoken or unspoken.
"You may, of course, find that the existence of an agreement to achieve the unlawful object has been established by direct proof," jurors have been told. "However, since conspiracy is, by its very nature, characterised by secrecy, you may also infer its existence from the circumstances of this case and the conduct of the parties involved."
The eight acts Combs is accused of that fall under the racketeering charge are: Kidnapping
Arson
Bribery
Witness tampering
Forced labour
Sex trafficking
Transportation to engage in prostitution
Possession with intent to distribute drugs
Racketeering conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial: Day three of jury deliberations - with partial verdict reached
Good afternoon on what could be a huge day in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Yesterday, not long before the end of the court day in Manhattan, New York, there was a flurry of activity as jurors sent a note confirming they had reached a verdict on four of the charges against the hip-hop mogul.
These are two counts of sex-trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
However, they said there were jurors with "unpersuadable" views on the most complicated charge - racketeering conspiracy.
The court did not hear the verdicts reached so far yesterday.
Instead, Judge Arun Subramanian encouraged jurors to continue deliberating on the racketeering conspiracy charge - which they will start to do today at 2pm UK time.
We will bring you all the updates from court as soon as we have them.
Goodnight - and see you back here tomorrow
After an eventful day, that's it from our live coverage for today.
We'll be back tomorrow as jurors continue to deliberate the charge of racketeering conspiracy against Sean "Diddy" Combs.
They have reached verdicts on the other four counts - two of sex-trafficking and two of transportation for prostitution - but Combs will have to wait to find out what they have decided.
Deliberations will resume at 2pm UK time.
You can read our report on today's events here - and we'll see you again tomorrow.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs will have to wait to hear his fate
Just over seven weeks since they first sat down to hear the evidence in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial, jurors have now reached verdicts on four out of the five counts against him.
They have been deliberating for about 13 hours.
There were tense scenes as the news was delivered to both the prosecution and defence towards the end of the court day today - but the hip-hop mogul will have to wait to hear his fate.
Jurors have been asked to deliberate further on the charge of racketeering, and will continue to do so tomorrow.
Judge asks jurors to keep an open mind as they continue tomorrow
The judge calls jurors back in again very briefly to thank them for all their hard work so far.
He tells them they won't need to come into the courtroom first thing tomorrow, but once all 12 jurors have arrived they can return to their deliberations on the racketeering charge.
Reminding them once again to keep an open mind, he wishes them all "a great evening" and says he will see them tomorrow.
Jurors to continue deliberating tomorrow
Judge Arun Subramanian has welcomed the jury back into the courtroom in Manhattan, New York.
He acknowledges they have reached verdicts on four of the five counts, and asks that they keep deliberating on Count 1 - racketeering conspiracy.
The judge reminds them of the instructions they were given yesterday, that they should not hesitate to change their opinion if convinced and follow his instructions on the law.
Jurors are dismissed from the courtroom, but quickly send a note back.
They have completed their deliberations for the day and will return tomorrow at 9am (2pm UK time).
Diddy gestures to family as judge and laywers discuss options
As he awaits news, Sean "Diddy" Combs gestures to his family in the courtroom - putting his hands in prayer and giving them a thumbs up.
Jurors first went out to consider the charges yesterday and have been deliberating for about 12 to 13 hours in total.
In case you missed it earlier, they have reached a verdict on the sex-trafficking and transportation for prostitution charges, but say they have so far been unable to come to a unanimous verdict on the charge of racketeering conspiracy.
What could happen next?
After a flurry of activity in court, it seems there may be a wait now to see what happens next.
Judge Arun Subramanian has said there are a few options.
First of all, he could tell the jury to keep deliberating. The second option is a modified "Allen charge", also known as a "dynamite charge", to encourage the panel to reach a unanimous decision on Count 1 - racketeering conspiracy.
The third option would be for the court to advise the jury to return a partial verdict, but as they have been deliberating for less than two days the judge says he doesn't think they are at the stage for this yet.
Diddy's family arrive in the courtroom
Several of Sean "Diddy" Combs's children have arrived back in the courtroom and taken their seats next to their grandmother, the rapper's mother, Janice Combs.
She has been in court to support him throughout the trial.
Combs is now standing up chatting with one of his lawyers, Xavier Donaldson, while Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, who are also on his team, are in their seats.
Prosecution and defence want jury to continue deliberating
Both prosecutors and the defence have said they would like the jury to keep deliberating on Count 1, which is the racketeering conspiracy charge.
Judge Arun Subramanian has asked both teams to send their proposed instructions for jurors.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Harvey Keitel pays tribute to co-star Michael Madsen after he dies aged 67
Harvey Keitel pays tribute to co-star Michael Madsen after he dies aged 67

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Harvey Keitel pays tribute to co-star Michael Madsen after he dies aged 67

Harvey Keitel has paid tribute to his late friend Michael Madsen following his death on June 3 at his home, in Malibu. Actor Madsen, 67, had a long and successful career as one of Hollywood's best actors. 'We've lost another great American poet,' Keitel said in a statement to 'Farewell, my dear friend.' Madsen and Keitel starred in Quentin Tarantino's film Reservoir Dogs as Vic Vega/Mr Blonde and Larry Dimmick / Mr White. Keitel continued: 'I'll never forget one of the best scenes I've ever seen on film - of you and Chris Penn fighting in Reservoir Dogs. 'A great love scene. Give Chris a hug for me,' he added. Chris, Sean Penn's younger brother, died in 2006 at the age of 40. He played Eddie Cabot in Reservoir Dogs. Madsen went on to star in three more Tarantino films, The Hateful Eight and Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. The actor played a violent ex-convict who plans to rob a jewelry store with seven other men in Reservoir Dogs. The role of Vic Vega some say led to him being typecast. 'I guess it's part of the whole bad-boy package,' he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. 'But I'd rather have a movie like Reservoir Dogs than not have it. There are a lot of actors that are a lot more recognized or famous than me, who get paid a lot more than me who haven't done even one film that you'd remember.' The legendary actor was found 'unresponsive' at his home in Malibu, California early Thursday morning. His manager said Madsen had died from 'cardiac arrest.' But Madsen's lawyer Perry Wander hinted that the movie star drank himself to death and blamed the actor's two former wives for making him miserable. I just spoke to Michael two days ago,' Wander told admitting that: 'I knew he was not well. 'Michael was suffering from the effects of alcoholism. He had multiple stints in and out of rehab. He struggled to maintain his sobriety. He was not happy about his life.' Madsen was also facing a crippling legal battle with his estranged wife, which saw the pair fighting over child support and other finances, his lawyer claimed. 'I blame her for putting in the screws over his last years of life,' Wander said, alleging the legal battle, which saw his passport be 'maliciously revoked', impacted his ability to travel and work abroad. Studies by the National Institutes of Health have found that heavy drinking can significantly increase the risk of cardiac arrest. Meanwhile, Michael Madsen's youngest son has paid an emotional tribute to his actor father. Luke Madsen, one of the three sons the actor welcomed with wife DeAnna, took to Instagram to laud his father and 'tell Hudson I said hi' - in honor of his brother who died by suicide in 2022. Sharing three childhood snaps with his father, he wrote: 'Some Peoples Hero's Wear Capes. 'And Fly Shooting Lasers Out Of Their Eyes. Some peoples Heros Can Fight Off Armies And Overcome Anything.' 'My Hero Wore A Cowboy Hat. My Hero Stood Taller And Stronger Than Any Man I've Ever Met. 'My Hero Understood Me Better Than Anyone. My Hero Is The Coolest Most Badass Human Being I Know. 'Not Only Was My Hero A Famous Tough Guy Movie Star. My Hero Was My Father. And He Was. Damn Good One.

Weinstein victim lawyer: Don't let Diddy case fool you. MeToo is alive and well
Weinstein victim lawyer: Don't let Diddy case fool you. MeToo is alive and well

Telegraph

time2 hours ago

  • Telegraph

Weinstein victim lawyer: Don't let Diddy case fool you. MeToo is alive and well

The Sean 'Diddy' Combs verdict does not mean MeToo is dying as most sexual assault cases are settled privately, America's most prominent female lawyer has said. The music mogul was this week acquitted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering after two of his ex-girlfriends, including the R&B singer Cassie Ventura, testified he coerced them into having sex with male escorts. Combs, 55, was convicted on two lesser charges of transportation for prostitution. But Gloria Allred, who is representing several of Combs's alleged victims, including two who have filed civil lawsuits, said the outcome is symptomatic of a waning MeToo movement. 'Nobody should judge the MeToo movement based on what happens in a criminal case,' Ms Allred, who also represented a number of Harvey Weinstein's accusers said. 'Criminal cases are rare, and most of the civil lawsuits that we do and the confidential settlements never result in a criminal case.' Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, she added: 'There are many, many more civil lawsuits than there are criminal cases. In addition to that, we do many more confidential settlements without a lawsuit than even civil lawsuits, so it's [MeToo] alive and well.' Around 70 lawsuits have been filed against Combs, including two by Ms Allred's clients: Joi Dickerson-Neal, who alleges the star drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1991, and Thalia Graves, who claims she was drugged and raped by Combs 10 years later. Combs has denied all the allegations against him. During her famed career spanning more than 50 years Ms Allred has represented alleged victims of the rich and powerful, including Bill Cosby, Donald Trump, R Kelly and Mohamed Al-Fayed. Her clients include an unknown number of Weinstein's accusers, including Miriam Haley, who the disgraced film mogul was found guilty of sexually assaulting in his New York criminal retrial last month. When Mr Trump won the election in November, some feared electing a man who had been found liable for sexual abuse marked the end of the MeToo movement, which sprung up after more than 80 women came forward claiming they had been raped or sexual assaulted by Weinstein. Following the latest Weinstein verdict, which acquitted the disgraced producer of one count of sexual assault and resulted in a mistrial for his rape charge, Ms Allred, said: 'For those of you in the press who have predicted that the MeToo movement might be dead, that obituary was obviously premature.' Ms Allred insists victims are still contacting her firm Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, which she describes as the most prominent women's rights law firm in the country, every day. 'We won over a billion dollars in the years that we've been in practice for victims, so I am not concerned that this is going to deter victims,' she said. 'Maybe they won't want to perhaps report to law enforcement, but they still want accountability, they still want justice, they can all get that through a civil case, lawsuit or a confidential settlement,' she added. Several of the witnesses who testified against Combs had pending civil lawsuits against the mogul, including Dawn Richard, who is represented by Ms Allred's daughter Lisa Bloom. Ventura, 38, settled her civil suit against Combs within 24 hours of filing. She was paid $30 million by the Bad Boy Entertainment founder. Last year, lawyer Tony Buzbee, who is representing dozens of Combs's alleged victims, claimed several high-profile celebrities had settled with victims quietly before to avoid being named in a public lawsuit. This week a judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, accusing Mr Buzbee of trying to blackmail him with false claims of sexual misconduct. Carter sued after Mr Buzbee contacted the star about a complaint from an anonymous accuser who alleged that Carter and Combs sexually abused her. Mr Buzbee then filed a lawsuit accusing Carter and Combs of raping the alleged victim when she was 13. The lawsuit was later withdrawn by the accuser. There is still a separate lawsuit pending which Carter filed against Mr Buzbee in federal court in Alabama. Following the Combs trial, which included showing the Manhattan court CCTV footage of the star beating Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, Ms Allred said she plans to propose legislation stating that women cannot legally consent to sex if they are beaten before or after the act. 'We all saw the video, he beat her, he dragged her back, and if that's not force, if that's not coercion, I don't know what is,' she said. Discussing her recommended legislation, she said: 'In the same way that if... a woman is under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, she could not, from a legal point of view, does not have the capacity to consent to a sex act.' She added: 'I'm proposing that if a woman is beaten, a victim of domestic violence before or after the sexual assault, it should be considered that she couldn't consent to it. 'And so that's what I'm going to propose to legislators to change the law, so hopefully something good can come out of this.'

Outkast rapper Big Boi's uncle gunned down in Atlanta road-rage horror
Outkast rapper Big Boi's uncle gunned down in Atlanta road-rage horror

Daily Mail​

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Outkast rapper Big Boi's uncle gunned down in Atlanta road-rage horror

The uncle of Outkast member Big Boi has been fatally shot in a road-rage incident in Atlanta. Remoin Patton, 62, was found dead shortly after 5.30pm on June 16, the Atlanta Police Department said. Two people have been arrested in connection with the killing, detectives announced Friday. Patton is the uncle of the 50-year-old rapper - real name Antwan Andre Patton - who is responsible for founding hip-hop duo Outkast, along with Andre 3000. According to police, Patton had been behind the wheel and was attempting to make a turn when he got into a verbal argument with the occupants of another vehicle. 'During the altercation, the victim was shot, causing him to crash his vehicle into a vacant residence,' the APD said. Patton was later found by officers with a gunshot wound to the back, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. 'The car just turned and crashed into the house. Actually the double windows were right here,' Chris Walker, who was housesitting the property for its landlord, told WSBTV. 'I'm like, "What the heck happened to my place that I'm staying now?"' Walker continued. 'I never thought it would be this property.' Footage from the station shows that Patton appears to have hit a support post on the home's covered porch and crashed through a section of its front wall, which was later covered with a tarp. Police announced Friday that a suspected gunman had been arrested as part of its investigation. Jabyrion Crumbley, 18, was said to have been joined by his attorney when he turned himself in to police on Wednesday, July 2, at the Fulton County Jail, where he was booked. Crumbley has been charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Accused: Jabyrion Crumbley (L), 18, was booked for murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Janisha Crumbley (R) was charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon 'Heart aches': Big Boi said in a statement to WSBTV that a 'moment of rage has totally pierced the heart of my family forever' According to jail records viewed by Crumbley remains in jail without bail as of Friday. Police had previously arrested 32-year-old Janisha Crumbley on June 20, during a traffic stop. She was charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon. According to jail records, she was booked on June 21 and released on a $30,000 surety bond the following day. 'Everybody who knows Uncle Moonie heart aches,' Big Boi said in a statement to WSBTV on Thursday. 'He wasn't just "My" Uncle, he was Unk to all that met him. A moment of rage has totally pierced the heart of my family forever,' he continued. 'May Uncle Moonie's soul rest in peace.' In a tribute post shared the same day on Instagram, he shared numerous photos and video of his uncle Remoin, writing: 'Long Live Uncle Moonie ….Miss ya UNC 💔 To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.' Big Boi and Andre 3000 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year under their Outkast moniker. The group hasn't released an album since 2006, though both have released multiple solo albums in the ensuing years.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store