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Diddy Trial: Jury Reaches Verdict on Four Counts But Not on RICO Charge

JOHNNY NUNEZ/GETTY IMAGES FOR MTV

JOHNNY NUNEZ/GETTY IMAGES FOR MTV

The twelve jurors in Diddy's racketeering and sex trafficking trial have made a decision on all counts excluding one: racketeering conspiracy.

At just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday (July 1), following their second day of deliberation, the jury sent a note to Judge Arun Subramanian announcing that they had reached verdicts on four of the five counts the mogul is charged with.

They said, however, that when it came to count one, racketeering conspiracy, there were "unpersuadable opinions on both sides." 

There was no indication in the note what the verdicts were for the other four counts. Those are two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and two counts of transportation with intent to engage in prostitution.

In response to the note, lead prosecutor Maureen Comey suggested reading the jurors a modified version of an Allen charge, instructions sometimes given to hung juries urging them to reach a verdict. 

Diddy's lead attorney Marc Agnifilo instead wanted something simpler: just to tell the jury to keep deliberating. 

"I'm not asking the court to say much, and that's because I don't believe the jury needs much," he told Judge Subramanian.

In the end, the judge adopted Agnifilo's language, but also reiterated some instructions from the jury charge he'd read to them on Monday. 

"It is your duty as jurors to consult with one another and to deliberate with a view to reaching an agreement," he read, in part. "Each of you must decide the case for himself or herself, but you should do so only after a consideration of the case with your fellow jurors, and you should not hesitate to change an opinion when convinced that it is erroneous. Discuss and weigh your respective opinions dispassionately, without regard to sympathy, without regard to prejudice or favor for either party, and follow my instructions on the law."

Deliberations continue on Wednesday. If more time is needed after that, it will be up to the jury whether to continue on Thursday (July 3) or to give themselves an extra-long holiday and return on Monday (July 7).

Throughout the past seven weeks, the court has heard testimonies from star witnesses like Cassie Ventura and Kid Cudi, along with Jane Doe, exotic dancer Sharay "The Punisher" Hayes, alleged drug mule Brendan Paul, and others who've encountered Diddy.

In court, the music mogul has leaned on his family for support, and has been reading self-help books while waiting on a verdict, inlcuding The Power of Positive Thinking.

 

Author: JAELANI TURNER-WILLIAMS, SHAWN SETARO

Source: Complex

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