The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has come to an end, with the jury revealing their deliberations in a final hearing today. According to Sky News, Diddy entered the courtroom with his hands in prayer as both the prosecution and defence took their positions for the final verdict. The jury had deliberated for just one hour on the racketeering charge, having decided the verdict for the other four charges on the day before.
On one count of Racketeering conspiracy, the jury of 12 New Yorkers found Diddy not guilty. On the charge of sex trafficking his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, they found him not guilty. On the charge of transportation for prostitution, they found him guilty. He was found not guilty of the sex trafficking of a woman under the pseudonym Jane, but was found guilty of transportation for prostitution in relation to her.
A full list of the verdicts:
- Not guilty of Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy
- Not guilty of Count 2: Sex-trafficking of Cassie Ventura
- Guilty of Count 3: Transportation for prostitution of Cassie and others
- Not Guilty of Count 4: Sex-trafficking of Jane*
- Guilty of Count 5: Transportation for prostitution of Jane and others
Closing arguments were made last week
On Friday, both the prosecution and the defence issued their closing statements in the Sean ‘diddy’ Combs trial, with the defence’s Marc Agnifilo taking ownership of the domestic abuse charges posed against the rapper.
“We own the domestic violence, I hope you guys know that,” he told the jury last week. “It happened. That’s not charged. He did not do the things he is charged with.”
He continued to describe Diddy as a “self-made, successful, Black entrepreneur” who built “wonderful, sophisticated, real businesses that have stood the test of time.”
Closing his arguments, he added: “He is not a racketeer. He is none of these things. He is innocent. Return him to his family who have been waiting for him.”
Meanwhile, the prosecution’s Christy Slavik told jurors how they had “learned a lot about Sean Combs” over the course of the eight-week trial.
“He’s the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn’t take no for an answer,” she said.
This is an evolving story and more details are expected to follow.
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