Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ fame posed challenges throughout jury choice : NPR

Choose Arun Subramanian completed questioning almost 100 potential jurors for the Sean “Diddy” Combs intercourse trafficking trial on Wednesday. For 3 days, the decide requested the jury pool about their private experiences with subjects like sexual assault and home violence, their data of the allegations in opposition to Combs and their potential to stay neutral in gentle of Combs’ presumed innocence — which some jurors struggled with, given the case’s excessive profile.

Choice started Monday within the federal District Courtroom for the Southern District of New York. Combs, who has been in custody since his arrest final September, faces prices of intercourse trafficking, transporting to interact in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy; he has pleaded not responsible.

The rapper, producer and businessman appeared in court docket for all three days of jury questioning, typically embracing his attorneys as he entered the courtroom. When one in all his attorneys requested a quick rest room break throughout the first morning of jury choice and the decide resisted, Combs spoke up. “I am slightly nervous in the present day, your honor,” he defined.

Combs, whose hair has grayed considerably throughout his time at a Brooklyn jail, sported a darkish sweater over a collared white shirt for the proceedings. He seemed on as potential jurors swore underneath oath and answered questions.

The jury pool had acquired questionnaires forward of this week’s proceedings, which included issues like whether or not they would have the ability to focus on issues of a sexual nature with different jurors, whether or not they or anybody near them has undergone sexual harassment coaching and whether or not they’ve already developed any biases towards Combs or his alleged victims. In court docket, the decide requested a lot of follow-up questions — particularly associated to jurors’ data of the allegations in opposition to Combs.

Many jurors introduced up each the prison prices and the a number of dozen civil lawsuits in opposition to Combs. “It is throughout social media,” one potential juror instructed the decide. Repeatedly, jurors raised the identical instance: the surveillance video launched by CNN final yr that exhibits Combs violently kicking, hitting and dragging his ex-girlfriend, the singer Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles lodge hallway in 2016. One juror stated the video might be thought-about “damning proof,” whereas one other referred to as it “surprising” and “scary.” After yet one more juror who talked about the video exited the courtroom, Combs’ lead protection legal professional, Marc Agnifilo, expressed his frustration over the video’s impression on the jury choice course of.

Many jurors who had data of the surveillance footage stated they’d nonetheless have the ability to stay neutral and would solely be told by the proof offered in court docket. (Combs’ prison indictment features a description of the lodge incident. His protection attorneys tried and didn’t get the video thrown out as proof. Prosecutors plan to introduce a model of the video throughout the trial.) Different jurors have been dismissed for admitting they could lean in favor of the alleged victims, generally due to their very own experiences with sexual assault. Some jurors stated they felt biased in opposition to rich celebrities, like Mr. Combs, who could consider they’re above following the legislation. Others have been dismissed for normal causes like medical exemptions, lack of English language proficiency and scheduling conflicts.

Jurors have been additionally proven a listing of individuals and locations which can be related to the case, although the capability of their involvement remains to be unknown. A few of the names on the record included high-profile celebrities like Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, Lauren London, Michelle Williams of Future’s Baby, Yung Miami and Child Cudi.

By Wednesday afternoon, 45 jurors had been chosen to maneuver ahead. On Friday, the prosecution and the protection will slim that quantity all the way down to the 12 who will serve on the trial, plus six alternates. Earlier than adjourning the courtroom, Choose Subramanian reminded jurors that they need to chorus from studying or listening to any data associated to the case outdoors of the courtroom and that they can not focus on the trial with anybody. Opening statements will start on Monday, Might 12. The trial is anticipated to final eight weeks.