BBC Information, in court docket in New York
REUTERS/Jane RosenbergTwelve New York jurors gathered round 10:00 (14:00 GMT) on Wednesday in a wood-panelled courtroom to inform Sean “Diddy” Combs that they discovered him not responsible of operating a prison enterprise with workers, and intercourse trafficking his ex-girlfriends.
The disgraced hip-hop mogul fell to his knees and buried his head in a chair on the defence desk the place he had simply spent two months on trial for intercourse trafficking and racketeering.
Earlier than the decision got here down, Combs sat quietly in his chair, trying ahead, sporting the identical off-white sweater and pants he wore for a lot of his trial.
The court docket grew quiet because the jury foreperson handed the decision sheet to the court docket deputy. Then it was handed again to the foreperson.
And so they started to learn.
Because the sound of the “not responsible” rung out in court docket for the primary time, acquitting Combs of essentially the most extreme crime of racketeering, the rapper saved his head low.
By the point the foreperson introduced Combs was not responsible of intercourse trafficking, Combs had his head in his arms.
The jury did discover him responsible on the least extreme fees of transporting individuals to interact in prostitution. As they confirmed their determination, Combs buried his face in his arms.
A flurry of small celebrations adopted for Combs, who has been in a federal jail in Brooklyn since September. He made a prayer signal along with his arms to the jury, then circled and made the identical gesture to his household – twin daughters, sons and 85-year-old mom.
He appeared to mouth: “I am coming residence.”
The second appeared equally emotional for Combs’ many attorneys, together with Teny Geragos, seated subsequent to him and wiping away tears with a tissue after the decision was learn.
ReutersCombs’ attorneys wasted no time in telling the choose that the decision, reached after roughly two days of deliberations, meant Combs ought to be capable of stroll out of the Manhattan courthouse a free man that very day.
His acquittal on essentially the most severe fees meant he not wanted to be jailed, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo informed the court docket, noting that his shopper’s aircraft was inaccessible – chartered and in Maui.
“Mr Combs has been given his life by this jury,” he stated. “He won’t run afoul of something this court docket imposes on him.”
Then, within the maybe essentially the most emotional gesture of the day for Combs, he appeared to precise his gratitude by urgent his head into his chair on the defence desk.
He rose, clapping his arms loudly, to hug a number of of his attorneys. Many members of the family and supporters in the primary courtroom and a packed overflow room joined him, cheering.
Then, with one ultimate hug to his lawyer and a wave to his household – blocked by a mass of individuals and court docket benches – he was escorted out of the court docket.
The hip-hop mogul’s homecoming hopes had been later dashed as Decide Arun Subramanian denied him bail at one other listening to on Wednesday afternoon.
Outdoors the Manhattan court docket, there have been repeated calls of “free Diddy” in a big crowd behind obstacles.
However he’ll stay behind bars till his sentencing later this yr.
