Jurors have reached a partial verdict in the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial but they can’t agree if he’s guilty or not of the most serious charge.
A panel of eight men and four women were asked to keep debating by Judge Arun Subramanian after it was reported that a verdict was reached on four out of five counts, but that they could not come to an agreement on the racketeering conspiracy charge.
This came after 12 hours of deliberations on Wednesday. The jury’s note read: “We have reached a verdict on counts 2, 3, 4 and 5,”, “We have not reached a verdict on count 1 because we have unpersuadable jurors on both sides,”.
Combs is accused of leading a criminal ring for 20 years that has been accused of plotting to commit arson, kidnapping, sex-trafficking and other offences.
Both sides have told the judge they won’t accept a partial verdict.
Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo said: “It’s our request that you tell the jury to keep deliberating, and don’t take the partial verdict,”.
Subramanian agreed, telling the jury: “I ask at this time that you keep deliberating.”
A conviction for the racketeering count would require the jury to agree Combs carried out at least two crimes with the aid of his employees.
Jurors may choose any two underlying offenses such as arson, bribery, witness tampering, kidnapping, s*x-trafficking, forced labor, drugs and pr*stitution.
Combs has been in prison since September 2024 and faces life in prison if convicted on the s*x trafficking charged or RICO charges.