logo
Diddy Trial News: As Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trafficking trial is underway; here are the jury members who will decide the rap mogul's fate

Diddy Trial News: As Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trafficking trial is underway; here are the jury members who will decide the rap mogul's fate

Time of India12-05-2025

Controversy in Jury Selection
Meet the Jurors
ADVERTISEMENT
Jury Panel's Details
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Details of The Six Alternates
FAQs
The federal trial of rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs is underway in Manhattan today and the jury that will give his verdict was selected in the morning, as per a report.The 55-year-old has been charged with five serious federal charges: racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transporting people for prostitution; charges which could potentially land him behind bars for life if convicted, according to Daily Mail.The process of selecting jurors wasn't without controversy as Diddy's lead lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, objected that seven of the nine people on the jury were non-white, saying, "That amounts to a pattern," as quoted in the report.However, Judge Arun Subramanian rejected the challenge, by saying, "The defense failed to show purposeful discrimination," quoted Daily Mail.Following a fully vetted process before the final selection of jurors, about 150 potential jurors were handed a binder containing dozens of names and places that may come up during the music mogul's trial, then finally 18 were selected, as per the report.According to Daily Mail, 12 jurors, which comprises eight men and four women are on the final panel and four men and two women are listed as alternates. Among those selected in the main juror panel, four are white, two are Hispanic, five are black and one is Asian and among the six alternates, four are white and two are black, as per the report.Juror 2: White man, who is 69 years old, a massage therapist from Manhattan. The trained actor is single with no kids and has worked at two luxury hotels which could come up during the trial, according to Daily Mail.Juror 5: White man, who is 31 years old, investment analyst from Manhattan. Called himself an 'active' church goer and a member of a country club. The juror said he was opposed to the death penalty but as that wasn't an issue in this case, he could serve, as per Daily Mail.Juror 25: Hispanic man, who is 51 years old, a scientist from Manhattan. Said he likes to watch nature documentaries and knew Diddy had been accused of "violent behavior" and said that he saw the video of Diddy beating up his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura while he was at the gym. He also saw a report that people had been drugged but said he wouldn't be biased, reported Daily Mail.Juror 28: Hispanic woman, who is 30 years old, a supermarket clerk from the Bronx. Single and doesn't watch the news, instead relying on "word of mouth". Likes to read books, play video games and watch Netflix, as per Daily Mail.Juror 55: Black woman, who is 42 years old, dietary aide in a nursing home in Manhattan. She has two children and likes reading Harry Potter books and watching Disney and Marvel movies. Her only criminal record was being caught with an open bottle of alcohol when she was younger, earning a joking admonishment from the judge, reported Daily Mail.Juror 58: Black man, who is 41 years old, works in accounts for the New York City Department of Corrections. Engaged and has a daughter and lives in the Bronx. He said that he likes sports and supports the Mets. The juror reads the New York Post and GQ magazine, according to Daily Mail.Juror 75: Asian man, who is 75 years old, retired formerly worked at JP Morgan. He lives in Westchester County with his wife, with whom he has a son. He watches the Discovery Channel and likes to listen to old Indian music. He plays cricket and volleyball, as per Daily Mail.Juror 116: White man, who is 68 years old, field tech for a telecoms company before retiring. He lives in Westchester with his wife and daughter. He said he struggled with seeing violence, writing in his questionnaire that 'when it comes to like skateboarders going down and crashing on to the ground, that's something I just can't look at'. But he claimed he could stomach grisly scenes during the trial, according to Daily Mail.Juror 160: Black woman, who is 43 years, lives in Westchester with husband and two children. Diddy smiled when she said 'I wish' I knew the names of the celebrities. The woman works as a physician's assistant and is a former amateur actor, as per Daily Mail.Juror 184: Black man, who is 39 years old, a social worker program supervisor from the Bronx. He is also a security guard on weekends. Through his work he has worked on domestic violence cases. He said that he likes spending time with his family and walking, reported Daily Mail.Juror 201: White man, who is 67 years old, senior logistics analyst from Westchester. Said in his questionnaire he was 'unsure' about Diddy's guilt, but claimed he meant to say he had 'no opinion' about it. He lives alone and likes shows like Survivor and the Amazing Race, according tp Daily Mail.Juror 217: Black woman, who is 74 years old, retired treatment coordinator who worked with the blind, from Manhattan. She lives alone, reads the New York Times, watches CBS and ABC News and likes classical music, as per Daily Mail.Juror 230: White man, 57 years old, manufacturing architect from Westchester. He walked into court with a book by author David Sedaris under his arm. He lives with his wife and two kids and likes a variety of music but said that his children recently got him into country music, reported Daily Mail.Juror 234: Black man, 34 years old, unemployed former window cleaner from Manhattan. He is currently unemployed but used to clean windows. He is a fan of Chicago PD and Law & Order. The juror said they had seen some stories about the case in the news but he "didn't really pay attention to it," quoted Daily Mail.Juror 247: White man, 40 years old, physician's assistant from Manhattan. He gets his news from the New York Times, New Yorker and Wall Street Journal. In his spare time he likes to surf, bike and hike, according to Daily Mail.Juror 292: White woman, 71 years old, archivist from Manhattan. She reads the New York Times, Wired and likes to watch costume dramas. She initially appeared unsure if she could talk about matters of a sexual nature with other jurors because she has never done that with a 'group of strangers' but told the judge she would be able to handle it, reported Daily Mail.Juror 321: Black woman, 24 years old, from the Bronx. Works stocking snacks and drinks in different buildings. Married but her husband lives abroad. The juror said that she had seen the video of Diddy and Ventura but said it wouldn't be hard for her to be impartial. She said: "There is both sides to every story. I don't know the full story, so I can't be completely one-sided," quoted Daily Mail.Juror 330: White man, 37 years old, who works in administration at the United Nations, from Manhattan. He has no children and is currently in a relationship. He gets his news from the New York Times, the BBC and reads heavyweight magazines like Foreign Affairs. Said he had only seen local news reports about the case as he 'doesn't follow this kind of celebrity cases'. He said in his jury questionnaire that he did 'not like the allegations' but said in court he could be objective, as per Daily Mail.The jurors come from all walks of life, including scientists, therapists, security guards, clerks, and retirees, as per Daily Mail. Many lead quiet, ordinary lives far removed from the celebrity world.Yes. Diddy's legal team accused prosecutors of racial bias in dismissing jurors. The judge, however, dismissed the claim.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

FATF links Pak missile tech to dual-use cargo seized by India in 2020
FATF links Pak missile tech to dual-use cargo seized by India in 2020

Business Standard

time5 hours ago

  • Business Standard

FATF links Pak missile tech to dual-use cargo seized by India in 2020

A dual-use equipment seized by India from a Pakistan-bound merchant vessel in 2020 is linked to Islamabad's National Development Complex that is involved in the country's missile development programme, a new report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has said. India's seizure of the dual-use equipment used in developing missiles found mention in the report by the multilateral financial watchdog that highlighted vulnerabilities in the global financial system. The report listed the case under a section on the misuse of the maritime and shipping sectors including to transport a range of commodities, including dual-use equipment. "In 2020, Indian custom authorities seized an Asian-flagged ship bound for Pakistan. During an investigation, Indian authorities confirmed that documents mis-declared the shipment's dual-use items," the FATF report said. "Indian investigators certified the items for shipment to be 'Autoclaves', which are used for sensitive high energy materials and for insulation and chemical coating of missile motors," the report said. It said these sensitive items are included in dual-use export control lists of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The bill of lading of the seized cargo provided evidence of the "link between the importer and the National Development Complex, which is involved in the development of long-range ballistic missiles," it said. The export of equipment such as the autoclaves without formal approval from various authorities is a violation of existing law, the FATF said. Pakistan's National Development Complex (NDC) has played a crucial role in the development of Pakistan's missile programme. India had seized the dual-use equipment from merchant vessel Da Cui Yun at Kandla port in Gujarat on February 3, 2020. The Indian customs authorities had stopped the vessel for wrongly declaring an autoclave, which can be used in construction of missiles, as an "industrial dryer". The report said that significant vulnerabilities remain across the global financial system in countering the financing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). "Despite the grave threat posed by proliferation financing (PF), only 16 per cent of countries assessed by the FATF and its global network have demonstrated high or substantial effectiveness" in a process that evaluates the implementation of targeted financial sanctions under the United Nations Security Council resolutions on proliferation. The report said that unless the public and private sectors urgently bolster technical compliance and effectiveness, those seeking to finance WMD proliferation will continue to exploit weaknesses in existing controls. The report provided a detailed analysis of the evolving methods and techniques used to evade PF-related sanctions. "Illicit actors are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to evade sanctions and circumvent export controls," it said.

Caught on hidden camera: US govt staff Arslan Akhtar admits he coaches illegal immigrants on how to avoid deportation, gets fired
Caught on hidden camera: US govt staff Arslan Akhtar admits he coaches illegal immigrants on how to avoid deportation, gets fired

Time of India

time6 hours ago

  • Time of India

Caught on hidden camera: US govt staff Arslan Akhtar admits he coaches illegal immigrants on how to avoid deportation, gets fired

Screengrab from viral sting video in which State Department staff Arslan Akhtar said he coaches illegal immigrants. Arslan Akhtar, a visa specialist working with the State Department, did not know that he was being recorded on a hidden camera when he took pride in saying that he coaches potential illegal aliens, offers them tips on how to avoid deportation. He also called his Jewish co-workers "garbage people" and opined that Elon Musk should be lynched -- speaking to journalist James O'Keefe, who was undercover. The discussion took place inside what looked like a restaurant. The State Department took immediate action and fired Akhtar as the clips for the interview went viral, with social media users asking why a person named Arslan Akhtar got a job in the State Department. The Washington Times confirmed that the department fired Akhtar "upholding the rule of law" as protecting the integrity of the immigration system is essential. The department will also launch a new contractor screening and vetting process, the department said. — StateDept (@StateDept) In the viral video, Akhtar said he gave advice to Hispanic people on avoiding deportation and his first advice is to "keep your mouth shut". 'Sometimes, I do say it to cab drivers that are from, like, Hispanic descent. I'm like, 'Don't talk to the police,'' Akhtar said in the video. 'I'm just saying, like, don't admit the truth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descubre cómo los inversionistas están obteniendo beneficios con los CFDs de Amazon. InvestIQ Registrarse Undo That is the ultimate loophole. Always maintain your innocence.' 'Don't give them more information. Don't tell them what you did, because you think being honest will help your case. It does not. Exact opposite. In fact, that's all we're looking for," he said. Akhtar said the State Department is full of Jewish people, "terrible Jewish people", 'like, really garbage people". 'These people are, like, colonists. These people are promoting genocide. These are real awful folks. And you know what the problem is? It's a cultural issue with these guys.' From his experience of working with Jewish organizations he said all of these people (Jews) are awful and they don't want change. On Israelis, he said he hates them to death and Yemenis are the most conniving group of folks next to Indians. 'Mexican people are nice. They never try to lie for no reason, like Bangladeshi people do,' he said. 'It's a culture of hatred, ultimately, and it's a culture of dominance,' Akhtar said on White people. 'They feel like they have the right to dominate everybody. To claim Greenland, to claim Canada, to claim Israel, Palestine.' In a post on X, the State Department said his dismissal was 'just the beginning.' 'These radicals with anti-American views have been embedded in our executive branch for generations and we are systematically cleaning out contractors that have allowed this,' said the Friday post. 'Let us be clear: If you have these views and you work in or with the State Department, we will find you.' On Elon Musk, Akhtar said, 'I would love for him to be dragged out of the building with his hair plugs' and be 'lynched on the street.'

FATF cites India's seizure of dual-use tech from Pak-bound ship in new report
FATF cites India's seizure of dual-use tech from Pak-bound ship in new report

Hindustan Times

time10 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

FATF cites India's seizure of dual-use tech from Pak-bound ship in new report

New Delhi: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has highlighted India's seizure of dual-use equipment used in developing missiles from a Pakistan-bound merchant vessel in 2020 in a new report flagging vulnerabilities in the global financial system for countering the financing of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The stopping of the Pakistan-bound ship and the seizure of dual-use equipment cited in the FATF report was widely reported by the Indian media, including Hindustan Times, when it happened in February 2020. (PTI File Photo) The report from the multilateral financial watchdog listed the incident involving Pakistan among six case studies in a section covering the misuse of the maritime and shipping sectors, including a vast network of vessels, ports and logistics, by illicit actors to evade sanctions and transport a range of commodities, including dual-use equipment. The stopping of the Pakistan-bound ship and the seizure of dual-use equipment cited in the FATF report was widely reported by the Indian media, including Hindustan Times, when it happened in February 2020. However, some aspects of the incident mentioned in the FATF report - such as the fact that the importer of the cargo was linked to Pakistan's National Development Complex, which is involved in the country's missile development programme - haven't been reported before. The FATF listed the incident as one of 'non-declaration of dual use goods under the prescribed export laws of the exporting country'. Though the FATF didn't name the exporting country, the ship was stopped in Indian waters while on its way from China's Jiangyin port to Pakistan's Karachi port. 'In 2020, Indian custom authorities seized an Asian-flagged ship bound for Pakistan. During an investigation, Indian authorities confirmed that documents mis-declared the shipment's dual-use items,' the FATF report said. 'Indian investigators certified the items for shipment to be 'Autoclaves', which are used for sensitive high energy materials and for insulation and chemical coating of missile motors,' the report said, adding that these sensitive items are included in dual-use export control lists of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), India and other countries. The report said the bill of lading of the seized cargo 'provided evidence of the link between the importer and the National Development Complex, which is involved in the development of long-range ballistic missiles'. The export of equipment such as the autoclaves without formal approval from various authorities is a violation of existing law, the FATF said. The National Development Complex (NDC), also known as the National Defence Complex, is a defence and aerospace agency under Pakistan's defence ministry. It has played a crucial role in the development of Pakistan's missile programme. HT had reported last month that a NDC facility at Attock in Pakistan's Punjab province that builds transporter-erecter-launcher vehicles for missiles was among military installations targeted by Indian drones on May 8 during hostilities between the two countries. HT had reported that the merchant vessel Da Cui Yun, which sails under the flag of Hong Kong, was stopped by India's customs department at Kandla port in Gujarat on February 3, 2020, for wrongly declaring an autoclave, which can be used in construction of missiles, as an 'industrial dryer'. At the time, the vessel was sailing from the Chinese inland port of Jiangyin to Port Qasim in Karachi. Indian authorities intercepted the vessel when it dropped anchor at Kandla following an intelligence tip-off. Experts from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), including a team of nuclear scientists, examined the cargo and determined that the 18x4-metre autoclave – a pressure chamber for carrying out various industrial and scientific processes - was a dual-use item that could be used for civilian or military purposes. The vessel was allowed to leave Kandla after the autoclave was seized. Reports at the time had suggested that the Da Cui Yun had sailed several times from China to Karachi via Indian ports carrying several cargoes of machinery. The FATF report said despite the 'grave threat posed by proliferation financing', only 16% of countries assessed by the watchdog and its global network have demonstrated high or substantial effectiveness in a process that evaluates the implementation of targeted financial sanctions under the United Nations Security Council resolutions on proliferation. The report said that unless the public and private sectors 'urgently bolster technical compliance and effectiveness, those seeking to finance WMD proliferation will continue to exploit weaknesses in existing controls'. The report highlighted the evolving methods and techniques used to evade sanctions related to proliferation financing and national and multilateral regime, and outlined how proliferation networks are sourcing dual-use goods, technologies, and knowledge - often through procurement networks and front companies - and using various financial channels to access the global financial system. The report listed the misuse of the maritime and shipping sectors as one of four main methods used to evade sanctions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store