By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The federal jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial reached a verdict in four of the five charges after deliberating for roughly 12 and a half hours.
The jury sent a note to Judge Arun Subramanian saying they did not reach a verdict count 1, which is racketeering conspiracy that carries the heaviest penalty with a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Racketeering charges are used to dismantle criminal organisations by linking individuals to coordinated and systemic illegal conduct.
Prosecutors allege that for more than two decades, Combs led a criminal enterprise – abetted by his associates and employees – which worked to cover up a range of crimes including sex trafficking, forced labour, drug distribution, bribery and obstruction of justice.
The judge has ordered the jury to continue its closed-door discussions for a third day after the panel of eight men and four women said on Tuesday that it was unable to reach a consensus on the count of racketeering.
If convicted of sex trafficking or racketeering, the former billionaire – known for elevating hip-hop in United States culture – could face life in prison. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to all five charges against him.
In the US criminal justice system, a partial verdict occurs when a jury reaches a unanimous decision on some, but not all, of the charges against a defendant.
This typically happens in cases involving multiple counts, where the jury agrees on a verdict for certain charges but remains deadlocked on others.
Partial verdicts help ensure that the judicial process is not delayed indefinitely owing to a lack of consensus on every count.
Combs’s partial verdict comes after a seven-week trial in which two of the music mogul’s former girlfriends testified that he physically and sexually abused them.
His lawyers acknowledged that the Bad Boy Records founder, once famed for hosting lavish parties, was at times violent in his domestic relationships.
But they said the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual.
The 12-member jury began deliberating on Monday following closing arguments, which concluded last week.
The jury has been unable to reach a verdict on a charge of racketeering conspiracy, because there were “unpersuadable opinions on both sides”, they said.
After two days of deliberations, the jury did reach a verdict on four other charges: two counts of sex trafficking and two of transportation to engage in prostitution.
A conviction for sex trafficking carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Transportation to engage in prostitution, which involves arranging to fly sex workers across state lines, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
With inputs from News Agencies.