The jury in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs resumed deliberations Wednesday after saying it has reached a verdict on four of the five counts against the hip-hop mogul.
The 12-member panel sent a note on Tuesday afternoon informing Judge Arun Subramanian that it had come to an agreement on counts two, three, four and five — which include sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution — but was unable to reach a verdict on count one: racketeering conspiracy.
“We have reached a verdict on counts 2, 3, 4 and 5,” the note read. “We are unable to reach a verdict on count 1 as we have jurors with unpersuadable opinions on both sides.”
Subramanian told the jury to “keep an open mind” as it continues deliberating the case.
Federal prosecutors say that for decades, Combs abused, threatened and coerced women to participate in drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters called “freak offs” and used his business empire, along with guns, kidnapping and arson, to control his victims.
“The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said during last week’s closing arguments. “It’s time to hold him accountable. It’s time for justice. And it’s time to find him guilty.”
Marc Agnifilo, Combs’s lead defense attorney, argued that Combs is a “swinger” and a drug abuser guilty of past domestic violence, but not the “leader of a criminal enterprise” as prosecutors have portrayed him.
“He did not do the things he’s charged with,” Agnifilo told jurors. “He did what he did. But he’s going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn’t do.”
Follow the live blog below for the latest updates culled from various reporters and news organizations in the courtroom, including ABC News, the Associated Press, CNN, NBC News, the New York Times and USA Today.
Live37 updates