A juror in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ case has defended their determination to acquit the Dangerous Boy Information founding father of probably the most critical fees in his federal intercourse trafficking trial.
The “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper, 55, was final week discovered responsible of two counts of transportation to have interaction in prostitution. He was acquitted on two sex-trafficking fees and one racketeering cost.
Following the decision, a jury member has slammed the general public’s response as “highly insulting and belittling to the jury and the deliberation process.”
“We spent over two days deliberating,” the juror, who requested to not be named, instructed ABC Information. “Our decision was based solely on the evidence presented and how the law is stated.”
“We would have treated any defendant in the same manner regardless of who they are. I have nothing else to say,” they added.
Throughout an eight-week trial, Combs’ legal professionals picked aside the prosecution case with principally light however agency cross-examinations. Combs by no means testified and his legal professionals referred to as no witnesses.
Whereas the general public’s response to the decision was certainly a blended bag, the rapper’s legal professional Anna Estevao mentioned it was a “huge win” for him — though his bail was denied.
“He was acquitted of sex trafficking, acquitted of RICO conspiracy,” she instructed reporters exterior a Manhattan courtroom, per NBC Information. “He will be able to sleep well at night knowing that.”
Decide Arun Subramanian determined to not launch Combs on the $1 million bond his protection workforce requested, which means he’ll stay behind bars till his sentencing listening to on Oct. 3.
The acquittals on the intercourse trafficking counts imply he’ll keep away from a 15-year obligatory minimal sentence. He might have confronted life in jail if he have been convicted of intercourse trafficking or racketeering conspiracy.
Combs now faces a most 10-year jail sentence on every of the 2 prostitution counts.
Over the weekend it was revealed that Combs acquired a standing ovation from fellow inmates when he returned to jail after successful acquittals on potential life-in-prison fees.
“They all said: ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government,’” legal professional Marc Agnifilo mentioned.
“I said: ‘Maybe it’s your fate in life to be the guy who wins,’” he recalled throughout a phone interview briefly interrupted by a jailhouse name from Combs. “They need to see that someone can win. I think he took that to heart.”
