A black juror was dismissed from Sean “Diddy” Combs’ intercourse trafficking trial on Monday (Jun 16), regardless of defence objections that the dismissal would cut back the racial variety of the panel figuring out the hip-hop mogul’s destiny.
US District Decide Arun Subramanian stated the juror’s inconsistent solutions to questions on the place he lived raised questions on his honesty and will taint a verdict.
Subramanian stated he took defence considerations about race significantly – Combs is black – however couldn’t take note of that the black male juror would get replaced by a white male, who had been an alternate juror.
“The court docket shouldn’t, certainly can’t, permit race to enter into its consideration,” Subramanian stated outdoors the jury’s presence, because the sixth week of Combs’ trial obtained underway in Manhattan federal court docket.
The jury is nameless, which is widespread for high-profile trials the place jurors may face threats or harassment if their identities have been identified.
Subramanian stated the jury was “numerous”.
Combs has pleaded not responsible to racketeering and intercourse trafficking prices. Prosecutors say he coerced ladies over twenty years to participate in drug-fueled sexual performances with male intercourse employees, typically often called “Freak Offs”. The defence says the sexual exercise described by prosecutors was consensual.
Legal professionals for Combs, 55, have argued that their consumer was unfairly focused due to his race. In a Sunday evening court docket submitting, protection attorneys wrote that the juror in query was considered one of two black males on the jury.
“The equity of the trial relies upon partially on having jurors with backgrounds just like Mr Combs share their views on the proof with different jurors from numerous backgrounds throughout deliberations,” Combs’ attorneys wrote.
Prosecutors stated in a Monday court docket submitting that it was “baseless” for the defence to counsel that that they had a racial motivation to hunt the juror’s dismissal.
