A jury of 12 New Yorkers decided the fate of Sean “Diddy” Combs during his highly publicized sex trafficking case.
After nearly seven weeks of testimony, eight men and four women came up with a verdict following less than three full days of deliberation.
Diddy, 55, was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution on Wednesday, July 2. He was, however, acquitted on charges of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking. Each transportation charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. (Diddy previously pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied all of the allegations against him.)
While the identities of each jury member are only known to the judge and lawyers, each juror revealed a little bit about themselves as they were selected for the trial.
According to NBC News, those selected range from ages 30 to 74 and live in different parts of New York, including Manhattan, the Bronx and Westchester County.
The men and women come from various professions, with an investment analyst, a physician assistant, a massage therapist, a social worker and a deli clerk all serving on the jury.
Six alternate jurors were also selected for the trial. Those four men and two women range in age from 24 to 71.
Before the trial officially began on May 5, potential jurors were asked about their familiarity with various celebrities, including those who personally knew or had been involved with Diddy.
Sean “Diddy” Combs Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for The Recording Academy
Some high-profile witnesses who ended up testifying in the trial included Cassie, Kid Cudi and Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard.
Before deliberations began, Judge Arun Subramanian delivered specific instructions to the jury. He asked the men and women not to jump to conclusions based on their personal likes or dislikes before reminding the group that “your verdict must be unanimous, but you are not bound to sharing your honest convictions.”
“If you listen to the views of your fellow jurors, and you use your own common sense, you will find a common verdict,” Subramanian added.
On Monday, June 30, Subramanian received a note from the jury’s foreperson, stating that they were “concerned” that one jury member “cannot follow your honor’s instructions” during deliberations.
The man, referred to as juror No. 25 in the note, is reportedly a 51-year-old man from Manhattan who holds a degree in molecular biology and works as a veterinarian, according to Reuters. (The judge ultimately decided that no further action was needed.)
Shortly after the verdict was announced, Subramanian thanked the jury for their service and commitment to the case for nearly two months. (Diddy also mouthed “thank you” to the jury with prayer hands before looking up.)
Cassie has broken her silence through her legal team after Sean “Diddy” Combs was found not guilty of sex trafficking. Cassie’s attorney Douglas H. Wigdor released a statement on Wednesday, July 2, after the verdict was read, telling Us Weekly, “This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file […]
“I want you to know that it is inspiring to all of us. You listened, you worked together, you were here every day, rain or shine. You did so with no reward, other than the reward that comes from answering the call of public service,” he said via CNN. “That should give all of us hope.”
Subramanian also warned the jury that members of the press will likely try to speak with them about the case in the future. He asked them not to speak about other jurors’ views or how the deliberations played out.
“There is an important reason to respect the privacy of your deliberations,” he said. “That being said, the choice of whether to speak to others about the case and your personal views is up to you.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
