UPDATED: Latest updates in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial (Fri 7 Jul 2025 US time)
Jury members in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex-trafficking trial have been ordered to deliberate further after failing to reach a decision on one count.
On day two of deliberations following the music mogul’s six-week trial in New York, the 12-person panel had decided on four out of five counts, though they couldn’t agree on the charge of racketeering conspiracy. In a note sent to the judge at 4pm, local time, the judge was informed that members were deadlocked, with their opinions “unpersuadable.”
Members had reached a partial verdict, agreeing on the charges of sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura, transportation for prostitution of Ms Ventura and others, sex trafficking of ‘Jane’, and finally, transportation for prostitution of ‘Jane’ and others.
Lawyers for the defence and prosecution pushed the judge to instruct jury members to continue deliberating on the racketeering conspiracy charge. A jury in a criminal trial in most U.S. jurisdictions, including New York, must be unanimous.
Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo said the defence would like the judge to bring out the jury to instruct them to continue deliberating rather than communicating via notes.
The prosecution asked the judge to enforce the ‘Allen’ charge, also known as the ‘dynamite’ charge, which is used when jurors are unable to reach a verdict. The ‘Allen’ charge is a method encouraging jurors to re-evaluate their positions in order to reach a decision.