Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs jury deadlocked on key cost after deliberations

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Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial jurors had been deadlocked Tuesday after reaching a verdict on 4 of the 5 counts in opposition to the rapper.

Two months after the trial kicked off, and almost 14 hours into deliberations, jurors advised Choose Arun Subramanian that they had been unable to succeed in a unanimous choice on a racketeering cost.

The prosecution known as greater than 30 witnesses to the stand all through seven weeks of testimony, whereas Diddy's protection workforce rested with out calling any witnesses on their behalf — a transfer thought of "excessive stakes poker" by former federal prosecutor and Fox Information contributor Trey Gowdy.

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Diddy's protection performed "excessive stakes poker" by not calling witnesses to the stand, specialists say. (Jane Rosenberg)

"Often, when protection doesn't name witnesses, that defendant known as an inmate," Gowdy defined. "I've mentioned that my whole profession. That is a elaborate approach of calling somebody an inmate. You gotta give the jury a purpose for affordable doubt and to easily say the prosecution hasn’t met its burden … most jurors don’t actually perceive what that burden is."

He added, "Gotta give the jury a purpose for doubt and should you do not put up a really vital protection, all you do is cross-examine authorities witnesses, then you are going to be an inmate."

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Diddy advised the court docket final week that it was his choice to not testify in his intercourse crimes case. The choose requested if Diddy understood he had the precise to testify or not testify, and if he had mentioned his rights along with his lawyer. Diddy responded, "Sure, completely," earlier than admitting it was "solely my choice" to not testify in his intercourse crimes trial.

Jurors began deliberating on Monday, June 30, and of the 5 counts, couldn't agree on a verdict for the racketeering cost, probably the most severe counts in opposition to the disgraced music mogul. A federal RICO violation may end up in a 20-year sentence. The transportation to interact in prostitution cost may carry a sentence of as much as 10 years, whereas intercourse trafficking by pressure, fraud or coercion might carry a 20-year sentence.

Jurors had been unable to succeed in a verdict Tuesday on all 5 counts in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial for intercourse crimes. (Jane Rosenberg)

"It’s very sophisticated — most attorneys can not clarify RICO, so to anticipate 12 folks, common citizen jurors to know a legal enterprise, predicate acts … it’s only a lot to ask," Gowdy mentioned. "There’s a purpose to cost it even should you don’t win. It opens evidentiary doorways that is perhaps closed, so plenty of instances prosecutors will cost one thing as a result of it allows you to get additional proof earlier than a jury although you do not actually anticipate to get a responsible verdict on that rely."

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Legal protection lawyer John W. Day , proprietor of the Santa Fe, New Mexico-based legislation apply John Day Law , advised Fox Information Digital that jurors might have had a tough time comprehending the RICO cost.

"Was Diddy's high-flying and perhaps disturbing life-style simply that, or can you actually pick a legal enterprise that's the equal of an organized crime household?" Day mentioned. "However tomorrow morning the choose might be hoping that after an evening of interested by it, the jurors could have second ideas a few break up verdict on RICO — in some way — and are available again with a unanimous verdict on that the majority severe cost."

Cassie Ventura gave emotional testimony throughout Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial. (Jane Rosenberg)

Potential juror points threatened the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial a number of instances. (Jane Rosenberg)

Legal protection lawyer Nicole Blank Becker, who represented R. Kelly, defined that the predicate acts in opposition to Diddy had been the "constructing blocks" to determine a RICO cost. Whether or not a jury can agree on a verdict or not stays to be seen.

"So what occurs is now they're pressured to return in there, and there is most likely going to be loads of frustration again there, extra preventing backwards and forwards," Becker mentioned. "My understanding is that the jurors' verbiage was one thing to the impact of that they are at a degree the place there's unpersuadable opinions on each side. So clearly among the jurors pondering, 'Nicely, clearly he is responsible.'"

The choose instructed the jury to proceed deliberating for now. A second possibility can be to provide supplemental jury directions. Lastly, the jury may return a partial verdict. Nonetheless, Choose Subramanian mentioned he isn't contemplating the third possibility at this level, and selected to have a portion of the jury cost re-read.

Legal protection lawyer Eric Faddis , founding companion of Colorado-based Varner Faddis , agreed that the RICO cost was essentially the most sophisticated of all the fees.

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"The jury could possibly be hung up on the completely different necessities of the cost, together with the legal enterprise component," Faddis mentioned. "I think that could be a sticking level as a result of the federal government didn’t cost any co-conspirators and by no means known as every other alleged members of this legal enterprise."

WATCH: PROSECUTORS ACCUSED DIDDY OF RUNNING A ‘CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE’

He added, "At this level, it’s unclear whether or not the partial verdict may give rise to any grounds for enchantment."

The federal government emphasised of their argument that Diddy ran an alleged criminal enterprise with full management. The prosecution identified that the jury heard testimony, noticed texts, seen financial institution data and heard audio allegedly exhibiting the "Final Night time" rapper committing crime after crime for many years.

In response to the prosecution, the federal government confirmed Diddy didn’t take no for a solution. "Up till at present, Diddy was in a position to get away with crime due to cash and energy," Assistant U.S. Legal professional Christine Slavik mentioned. "That stops now."

The decision for the 4 counts reached got here "pretty rapidly," based on Austin-based legal protection lawyer Sam Bassett .

Diddy was arrested and charged with a number of counts in September. (Stan Honda/Getty Pictures)

"It appears the jury has struggled and spent most of their time debating the extra severe and complicated racketeering rely," Bassett famous. "If I used to be the protection, I’d be involved, however you by no means know what a jury will do. For this prolonged of a trial, a 13-hour deliberation is on the quick facet of expectations."

When the jury was introduced again into the courtroom, the choose requested them to maintain deliberating, saying it's their responsibility to debate amongst themselves and type opinions.

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Choose Subramanian mentioned the jurors should attain a unanimous verdict, however should not surrender their convictions merely to return a verdict or fulfill the remainder of the jurors. The jury was then dismissed again to the jury room. Court docket concluded after 5 p.m., and the jury was requested to return on Wednesday earlier than 9 a.m.

"Each side said that they don't need to settle for a partial verdict," lawyer David S. Seltzer advised Fox Information Digital. "This forces the jury to render an entire verdict, which in the end may result in a hung jury on the rely at concern if they can not render a verdict on all counts, and thus result in a potential retrial on the hung rely.