Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Juror dismissed over inconsistent disclosures
A juror has been dismissed in the ongoing criminal trial against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in New York for sexual abuse, racketeering, and trafficking, after he made inconsistent disclosures about where he lived.
The juror, named only as Juror Six, was removed on June 16th and replaced with the first alternate juror, after inconsistencies in his statements regarding his living situation were discovered.
During jury selection, Juror Six – described as a 41-year-old Black man, who said he worked as a clerk in a correctional facility and enjoyed hip-hop music from the 1990s, per CNN – had told the court he was living in the Bronx area of New York with his partner and baby daughter.
However, after an inquiry into these statements last week, the man said he had recently moved in with his fiancée and daughter in New Jersey, and only stayed in the Bronx with his aunt on work trips.
As such, this forced the judge Arun Subramanian to remove him from the jury, despite defence lawyers arguing that this action would result in the diversity of the remaining jury being reduced.
However, Subramanian responded: “It would be improper to let the race of the juror and the alternate juror factor into the proper course here.”
The alternate juror, who is set to take the place of Juror Six in the trial, is a 57-year-old white man who lives with his wife and children in Westchester County.
The trial will now continue with the new juror in place. Combs is charged with five counts of sexual abuse, racketeering, and trafficking, all of which he denies and has pleaded guilty to.
The rapper submitted a second motion for a mistrial last week over “prosecutorial misconduct”, which the judge denied.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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