P Diddy trial jury 'concerned' for one member in lengthy note to judge amid deliberations
Reach Daily Express July 01, 2025 12:39 PM

The trial of P Diddy in New York City over serious assault and sex trafficking charges took another major turn on Monday. During deliberations in the trial of Sean 'P Diddy' Combs, the jury passed a note to the court expressing concerns about one of their members.

The message was handed over to the prosecution team for scrutiny, prior to being delivered to defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo. Rap music mogul Diddy was summoned back to the courtroom to peruse the note as all parties awaited Judge Arun Subramanian's return.

Scribbled on roughly a third of a lined piece of paper, the note read: "We have a juror, No. 25, who we are concerned cannot follow your honor's instructions."

This substantial communique was followed by a more routine one, identifying the group's chosen foreperson as Juror No. 5, who also expressed a desire to confer with the judge regarding the concerning juror.

In response, the judge sent a note reminding all jurors of their duty, saying: "I received your note. I remind every juror of their duty to deliberate and their obligation to follow my instruction on the law. With that instruction in mind, please continue deliberating."

Earlier in the day, the alternate jurors in the case were dismissed , reports the Mirror US. After reading the instructions to the jury, the judge told the alternates they were free to leave, but asked them to remain reachable in case they were needed due to any emergencies that might arise during jury deliberations.

He expressed his gratitude for their extensive contribution to the case stating: "It's the very least I can do for your immense service in this case."

The process of selecting a jury commenced on May 5, but it took several days to finalise a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. During the trial, one juror was dismissed, and an alternate took their place.

It remains uncertain whether concerns over a particular juror would lead to their removal. However, if that were to occur, an alternate would be called in to replace them, necessitating their return to the Daniel Patrick Moynihan courthouse.

On the current day, Judge Arun Subramanian devoted the morning to instructing the jury, issuing a series of guidelines and warnings. "Actions may speak louder than words," he cautioned.

The judge also emphasised the importance of evaluating witness credibility, particularly those granted immunity or testifying under pseudonyms.

Regarding Diddy's decision not to testify, Judge Subramanian explained that it was within his rights. "The defendant had no responsibility to testify, and he did not. You must not attach any significance to that," he stated.

Jurors have been given the option to deliberate for as long as they need, beyond the court's standard 5pm closure time. There is no time limit on the deliberations, which could potentially last multiple days or even weeks.

Diddy faces a total of five charges across three federal indictments, including sex trafficking, conspiracy racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Diddy entered a plea of not guilty to all charges levelled against him.

Furthermore, he strongly refutes all accusations of misconduct, including those made in civil lawsuits.

Jury drama is commonplace in high-profile cases. Earlier this month, the conclusion of the Harvey Weinstein rape retrial, which resulted in a mixed verdict, highlighted just how unpredictable a jury can be.

Several jurors reported what they termed as "playground stuff," referring to some petty squabbles.

In the end, after Weinstein pleaded not guilty, the jury found him guilty on one charge and acquitted him on another. A mistrial was declared on a third charge.

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