Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty
Podcast host, Diddy on Trial
The BBC’s Diddy on Trial podcast has followed every twist and turn in Diddy’s case since November 2024.
From bombshell allegations of so-called “freak-offs”, to testimony from Grammy-winning rapper Kid Cudi, there have been headline-making moments every week.
We’re bringing you all the updates straight from court in New York.
You can listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds or watch on our YouTube channel.
We’re now seeing Combs’ legal team departing court for the day.
His family, who have been present for most court hearings, have also been seen leaving.
Reuters
Reuters
The charge that the jury is still deliberating – after reaching verdicts on the other four – is the most serious of the five.
If convicted of racketeering, Combs could face life in federal prison.
Racketeering conspiracy, or directing an illegal enterprise under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), is the formal name for the charge.
The law was created to take on mob bosses, but it has since been used in other cases, including sex trafficking, such as the case against disgraced R&B singer R Kelly.
The government has argued that Combs used his loyal network of associates to run a criminal enterprise and cover up his alleged crimes.
The defence sought to chip away at the government’s racketeering allegations, by asking witnesses whether Combs’ employees ever witnessed the sexual encounters known as “freak-offs”. Cassie Ventura, the star witness for the prosecution, said she didn’t think they were present.
Read more here:
Was Diddy a ‘mastermind’? How ex Cassie’s testimony builds the sex trafficking case against him
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
The judges and attorneys also had to discuss whether to convene on 3 July, when the court is normally closed, if jurors don’t reach a verdict tomorrow.
The judge says that with some manoeuvring, they can keep the court open.
The prosecution wants the court to stay open for the jurors rather than come back on Monday. Friday is a federal holiday.
Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said he doesn’t want the judge to ask jurors what they want to do until the end of the day tomorrow so they don’t feel “rushed” into a decision.
So we will see tomorrow whether deliberations will carry into Thursday.
There is huge interest among members of public in the outcome of the trial, as members of the media and influencers gather outside the court this afternoon.
Reuters
Reuters
Reuters
The jury has finished for the day after reaching verdicts in four out of the five counts against Combs.
This means we will not hear a verdict until at least tomorrow when they return to again consider the first count, where there is disagreement among the 12 jurors.
Court resumes tomorrow morning at 0900 ET (1400 BST).
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
The vibe was tense in the courtroom as the judge was deciding how to respond to the jury.
Combs sat with a despondent look on his face as lawyers put their arms around him occasionally.
Attorney Agnifilo asked the judge to give the jury a simple note, telling them to keep deliberating.
Prosecutors wanted a longer note telling them the case could be retried if they don’t reach a verdict.
In the end, a compromise was reached.
We’ve just heard that the prosecution wanted the judge to use an Allen charge.
That is a set of instructions given to a hung jury to push its members to reach a unanimous decision.
Currently, the jury is disagreeing among themselves about one of the charges against Combs, which means they are “hung”. The judge has asked them to continue deliberating.
Allen charges are controversial. Some believe they can put undue pressure on jury members, forcing them to change their stances or cave to peer pressure – especially when their opinion is in the minority.
Allen charges are not allowed in several states, but are permitted in federal courts. The Combs case is in a federal court in New York.
After hearing from the prosecution and defence, Judge Arun Subramanian has called the jury into the courtroom.
“I ask at this time that you keep deliberating,” the judge says to the 12-member panel.
Judge Arun Subramanian is now hearing arguments from both the prosecutors and defence, and deciding how to respond to the jury.
The jury has said that they are unable to reach a verdict on one of the five charges. Both the defence and prosecution want them to go back and deliberate further.
The jury cannot agree on the first charge, which comes with the steepest possible sentence. If convicted on the racketeering charge, Combs faces up to life in prison.
He faces another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years if he is found guilty of sex trafficking.
Transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Combs has denied all charges against him.
While we wait for more details from the courtroom, let’s quickly revisit the charges Sean “Diddy” Combs faces:
- Racketeering conspiracy
- Sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura
- Transportation for prostitution of Ventura and others
- Sex trafficking of Jane
- Transportation for prostitution of Jane and others
The jury says it has reached a verdict on all but the first charge.
Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court
I’m now waiting to get through courtroom security with several of Diddy’s family members.
His children – including Justin, Quincy, Christian, and his twin daughters – are standing in the queue with me.
They’ve been a constant presence in court throughout most of the trial.
Reuters
Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court
The parties are both making proposals on what they want to do in response, but one thing is clear – we will not hear this partial verdict just yet.
Both the defence and prosecution want the jury to go back and deliberate further.
The prosecution wants the judge to employ something called the Allen charge – a way to put extra pressure on the jury to reach a unanimous decision.
The defence does not.
The judge is considering both proposals, but says he doesn’t think we’re at the point of hearing a partial verdict.
Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court
The courtroom was extremely tense in the moments leading up to learning that the jury had reached a partial verdict.
Combs sat in his normal chair as his lawyers formed a circle around him. They were standing, hugging each other, patting his shoulders and comforting him.
The expression on Combs’ face was hard to read. He stared forward and put his head in his hands at one point.
Combs has been seated in court, seemingly in prayer, as his lawyers form a semi-circle around him, according to CBS reporters in the room.
He has his head bowed, and hands folded in his lap.
At some points, Combs rubbed his eyes. Reporters in court were unable to tell if he was wiping away tears.
His intense huddle continues, as prosecutors sit nearby looking into their computer screens.
Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court
The jury has reached a partial verdict.
In a note sent to the judge at 16:15 EST (21:15 BST), the jury’s foreperson says the group has reached verdicts on counts two, three, four and five – which are the sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution charges.
They say they are unable to reach a verdict on count one – racketeering conspiracy – because jurors on both sides have opinions that are unmovable.
The jury in the sex trafficking trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs has reached a verdict on at least some of the counts, the BBC’s US partner CBS reports.
Stick with us as we bring you more.
According to reporters in the courtroom from CBS, the BBC’s US partner, Combs’s defence lawyers are huddled around him, two with their arms around each other.
Combs appears to be praying, with his hands folded and head down, they say.
The court has received another note from the jury, according to the BBC’s US news partner CBS.
Lawyers are now coming into the courtroom.
We’ll bring you more info when we hear what this note is about.
