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

Decide Arun Subramanian completed questioning almost 100 potential jurors for the Sean “Diddy” Combs intercourse trafficking trial on Wednesday. For 3 days, the choose requested the jury pool about their private experiences with matters like sexual assault and home violence, their data of the allegations in opposition to Combs and their means 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 expenses of intercourse trafficking, transporting to have interaction 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 certainly one of his attorneys requested a short lavatory break in the course of the first morning of jury choice and the choose resisted, Combs spoke up. “I am a bit of nervous right now, 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 regarded on as potential jurors swore beneath 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 be capable 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 choose requested quite a lot of follow-up questions — particularly associated to jurors’ data of the allegations in opposition to Combs.

Many jurors introduced up each the felony expenses and the a number of dozen civil lawsuits in opposition to Combs. “It is throughout social media,” one potential juror instructed the choose. Many times, jurors raised the identical instance: the surveillance video launched by CNN final 12 months that exhibits Combs violently kicking, hitting and dragging his ex-girlfriend, the singer Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles resort hallway in 2016. One juror stated the video could possibly be thought-about “damning proof,” whereas one other referred to as it “stunning” and “scary.” After 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 influence on the jury choice course of.

Many jurors who had data of the surveillance footage stated they’d nonetheless be capable to stay neutral and would solely be told by the proof introduced in court docket. (Combs’ felony indictment features a description of the resort incident. His protection attorneys tried and didn’t get the video thrown out as proof. Prosecutors plan to introduce a model of the video in the course of 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 regulation. Others have been dismissed for normal causes like medical exemptions, lack of English language proficiency and scheduling conflicts.

Jurors have been additionally proven an inventory of individuals and locations which are related to the case, although the capability of their involvement continues to be unknown. A number of the names on the checklist 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, Decide 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, Could 12. The trial is anticipated to final eight weeks.