After greater than two hours of authorized directions from federal Choose Arun Subramanian, the jury of eight males and 4 girls headed behind closed doorways to deliberate on Monday (early Tuesday AEST).
They’re going to be sifting by seven weeks of generally graphic and emotional testimony concerning the rap, trend and actuality TV impresario’s propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, together with drug-fuelled intercourse marathons dubbed “freak-offs” or “resort nights”.
Jurors are being supplied with a laptop computer loaded with the entire reveals proven in court docket, together with textual content messages, images and movies of the sexual encounters on the coronary heart of the case.
As he despatched the jury to deliberate, Subramanian instructed the 5 alternate jurors to stay on standby in case they’re wanted to fill in on the principle jury.
About 10 minutes into deliberations, the jury despatched a notice indicating they’d accomplished their first order of enterprise: electing a foreperson.
Combs confronted his household and supporters, who’re within the courtroom gallery, all who had been bowing their heads in prayer — his relations holding arms with one another. As they completed, all of them applauded.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to federal expenses of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of intercourse trafficking — relating to 2 of his ex-girlfriends — and two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly intercourse staff throughout state traces.
In closing arguments final week, federal prosecutors and Combs’ defence crew took their final photographs at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founding father of Unhealthy Boy Information.
“The defendant used energy, violence and worry to get what he needed,” Assistant US Legal professional Christy Slavik stated.
“He thought that his fame, wealth and energy put him above the regulation.”
She stated that he used his “shut inside circle and a small military of non-public employees, who made it their mission to fulfill the defendant’s each want, promote his energy and defend his fame in any respect prices”.
Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, “This is not about crime. It is about cash”. He famous that considered one of Combs’ accusers within the prison case additionally sued him in civil court docket.
“He isn’t a racketeer. He isn’t a conspirator to commit racketeering. He’s none of these items. He’s harmless. He sits there harmless. Return him to his household, who’ve been ready for him,” the lawyer instructed jurors.
In all, 34 witnesses testified, headlined by Combs’ former girlfriends Cassie — the R&B singer born Casandra Ventura — and “Jane”, who testified below a pseudonym.
Each girls stated he typically was violent towards them. Cassie stated he compelled her into a whole lot of sexual encounters with paid male intercourse staff whereas Jane recounted quite a few “resort nights”.
Jurors additionally noticed now-infamous safety digicam video of Combs beating, kicking and dragging Cassie at a Los Angeles resort in 2016 and clips from movies of sexual encounters.
Combs selected to not testify, and his attorneys did not name any witnesses of their defence case. His attorneys elected as an alternative to problem the accusers’ credibility throughout prolonged cross-examination questioning.
The defence has acknowledged that Combs veered into violence, however his attorneys keep that the intercourse acts had been consensual. They contend that prosecutors are intruding in Combs’ private life and that he is finished nothing to warrant the fees towards him.
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