The upcoming trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, which will determine the music mogul's fate on severe charges ranging from racketeering and sex trafficking to kidnapping and bribery, has reached its final pre-trial phase with jury selection set to conclude on Monday.
Judge Arun Subramanian, the presiding judge, decided to push the final jury selection to Monday due to concerns about juror retention over the weekend, The Guardian reported.
The decision came after a juror expressed worry for her "well-being," leading to her dismissal from the 45-member jury pool, from which 12 jurors and six alternates will be chosen, as per NBC New York report. Once this process is finalized, which is expected to be brief, opening statements will commence.
Combs, 55, pleaded not guilty to all charges after his September arrest and is being held without bail at a Brooklyn federal lockup. Faced by a kaleidoscope of accusations, Combs's defense argues that the prosecutors are mischaracterizing consensual sexual activity between adults. His defense team also plans to highlight an aspect of mutual violence between Combs and his ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, who is likely to be a significant witness, according to The Guardian.
The judge has already dismissed the defense's claim that Combs was targeted due to his race, with NBC New York quoting Subramanian: "However, Combs doesn’t point to any evidence that racial bias played a role in the Government’s actions, that the prosecution team was responsible for any leaks to the press, or that the way Combs’s homes were searched bespeaks a discriminatory purpose."
As the trial approaches, the indictment includes disturbing claims, such as alleged "Freak Offs"—drug-fueled orgies where women were reportedly forced to have sex with male sex workers while being filmed, as noted by NBC New York. If found guilty on all charges, Combs faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, with the possibility of life in prison.
