Gerrard Kaonga
Jurors in the Diddy trial are one step closer to coming to a complete verdict, but admitted they have run into an issue when it comes to one of the charges.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs' trial is well underway and those in the court have heard damning claims against the former rapper and producer.
One of the crucial aspects that have been discussed is Combs’ relationship with former partner Cassandra Ventura, popularly known as Cassie.
Diddy was arrested last September while in New York and faces five charges.
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These charges include racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and Combs has denied all of the charges against him.
On Tuesday (July 1) jurors revealed they had reached a partial verdict following some 12 hours of deliberations. They are set to continue this process on Wednesday.
The jury’s note to the judge gave an update on the progress they had made in these few hours.
It read: “We have reached a verdict on counts 2, 3, 4 and 5.”
This was in reference to two sex trafficking charges and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
It continued: “We have not reached a verdict on count 1 because we have unpersuadable jurors on both sides.”
This was in reference to the top charge of racketeering conspiracy, which falls under Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The charge - which is a type of organized crime - was originally used to clamp down on Mafia operations, but now has a wider scope.
Essentially, with Diddy the indictment claims he used his many businesses, including label Bad Boy Records, as a criminal organisation 'to fulfil his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct'.
After the note was read out in the courtroom, both the prosecution team and Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told the judge that they didn’t wish him to accept a partial verdict.
Agnifilo spoke to the judge saying: “It’s our request that you tell the jury to keep deliberating, and don’t take the partial verdict.”
The judge, Arun Subramanian, agreed not to force the jurors to deliver their partial verdict, instead telling them: “I ask at this time that you keep deliberating.”
Court will resume at 9.00am in New York where the jury will continue to deliberate the racketeering conspiracy charge.
If convicted of all charges, Diddy could be facing life behind bars.