Combs Trial Hits Snag as Juror Refuses Court Directions
Oh, great—just what we needed—another billionaire’s legal soap opera with a side of jury drama. The Sean “Diddy” Combs trial hit a snag when, barely two hours into deliberations on June 30, the jury sent a note to Judge Arun Subramanian declaring that Juror No. 25 was either confused or flat-out refusing to follow instructions. Yes, that’s right: a 51-year-old molecular biologist and neuroscience PhD holder can’t grasp simple court guidelines. I told you so, we should have predicted at least one ego wouldn’t listen.
Judge Subramanian, not exactly surprised, asked for clarification—was the juror clueless or simply obstinate? We’re still waiting. This jury circus follows the earlier ouster of Juror No. 6, a 41-year-old Black communications professional accused of fibbing about his New York City versus New Jersey address. Despite defense objections labeling the removal “prejudicial” and “without factual basis,” the judge swapped him out for a 57-year-old white accountant from Westchester, courtesy of NBC News and E! News coverage.
Meanwhile, Combs—the rap mogul facing sex trafficking, racketeering and prostitution transport charges—remained mum on the stand but found time to be polite. “I’m doing great, Your Honor,” he said in one of his rare public utterances, adding, “Thank you, you’re doing an excellent job.” Sigh. Gratitude from an accused power-player—that’s a new twist.
Prosecutors piled on with nearly five hours of closing arguments delivered by Christy Slavik, who painted Combs as a dictator running a “criminal enterprise” fueled by fear, violence and silence. She detailed his 2016 assault on then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and a 2024 alleged attack on “Jane,” the pseudonymous ex. “He thought that fame, wealth and power put him above the law,” Slavik sneered, adding that Combs deployed a “small army” of staffers to protect his reputation at all costs.
In an attempt to streamline their case, the prosecution filed papers to tweak their theories of attempted arson and kidnapping, aiming to bolster charges against the music mogul. Subramanian, ever the patient referee, will decide soon whether to bless those amendments.
So here we are: a trial stretched eight weeks, a jury struggling to follow courtroom etiquette, and a defendant who minds his manners in public court but allegedly abuses power in private. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, NBC News
Attribution: Jordan Strauss (Creative Commons)
