In a wood-paneled New York courtroom, 12 jurors announced their verdict on Wednesday at 10:00 AM, declaring Sean "Diddy" Combs not guilty of running a criminal enterprise with employees and sex trafficking his former girlfriends. The verdict followed two months of intense trial proceedings. Upon hearing the initial "not guilty" verdict on racketeering charges, Combs fell to his knees in disbelief and buried his face in a chair at the defense table.
During the momentous reading of the verdict, Combs maintained a somber demeanor, dressed in the same off-white attire he wore throughout much of the trial. As the jury foreperson confirmed the verdict, stating Combs was also not guilty of sex trafficking, the rapper's head remained in his hands. However, the jury did convict him on less severe charges related to transporting individuals for prostitution. This brought a mix of relief and disappointment for Combs, culminating in an emotional display of gratitude.
After the verdict, Combs raised his hands in prayer to the jury, then turned to his family, including his twin daughters, two sons, and his 85-year-old mother, seemingly mouthing assurances that he would be returning home. His legal team expressed collective relief, with attorney Marc Agnifilo noting that the verdict meant Combs should be released from federal custody that day, explaining that his client's plane was already chartered and stationed in Maui.
As family and friends erupted in cheers, Combs displayed heartfelt appreciation, burying his head in his chair again before rising to clap and embrace his legal team. After sharing emotional farewells with supporters, Combs was escorted out of the courtroom, still in custody for a pending bail hearing.
For continuous updates on this acclaimed trial, listeners can catch the BBC Sounds podcast, "Diddy on Trial," available on various platforms.
During the momentous reading of the verdict, Combs maintained a somber demeanor, dressed in the same off-white attire he wore throughout much of the trial. As the jury foreperson confirmed the verdict, stating Combs was also not guilty of sex trafficking, the rapper's head remained in his hands. However, the jury did convict him on less severe charges related to transporting individuals for prostitution. This brought a mix of relief and disappointment for Combs, culminating in an emotional display of gratitude.
After the verdict, Combs raised his hands in prayer to the jury, then turned to his family, including his twin daughters, two sons, and his 85-year-old mother, seemingly mouthing assurances that he would be returning home. His legal team expressed collective relief, with attorney Marc Agnifilo noting that the verdict meant Combs should be released from federal custody that day, explaining that his client's plane was already chartered and stationed in Maui.
As family and friends erupted in cheers, Combs displayed heartfelt appreciation, burying his head in his chair again before rising to clap and embrace his legal team. After sharing emotional farewells with supporters, Combs was escorted out of the courtroom, still in custody for a pending bail hearing.
For continuous updates on this acclaimed trial, listeners can catch the BBC Sounds podcast, "Diddy on Trial," available on various platforms.
