A juror in the sex trafficking trial of American rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has been dismissed after providing conflicting information about his residence.
During the jury selection process, the juror stated on a questionnaire that he resided in the Bronx, New York. However, he later told a court staff member that he had moved in with his girlfriend in New Jersey.
Judge Arun Subramanian pointed out that he had identified “multiple inconsistencies” in the jurors’ statements in court records, which he believed could imply an intention to “be deceptive” to secure a spot on the jury.
Combs’ legal team had contested the decision, arguing that dismissing a black male juror would “substantially prejudice” their client. An alternative juror, a 57-year-old white father from Westchester, has now taken the place of the dismissed juror.
Combs, 55, has denied the allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Lawyers have been discussing the potential removal of the juror for the past week. Lead prosecutor Maurene Comey requested the jurors’ dismissal.
The prosecution claimed the juror revealed he had recently relocated to New Jersey with his girlfriend and lived there for most of the trial. When questioned privately, the juror stated that he was staying in an apartment in the Bronx, New York, for four to five nights during the workweek while fulfilling his jury duty.
Earlier, in a prospective juror interview a few weeks ago, the juror claimed that he lived in the Bronx with his fiancée and daughter. At one point, he also mentioned residing with an aunt, but he later excluded her from his responses.
The judge observed that he had found “multiple inconsistencies” in the juror’s replies in the court records.
According to the judge, these inconsistencies suggested a tendency to “shade answers” and raised significant doubts about the juror’s “candour” and ability to follow instructions.
