Sean “Diddy” Combs was put on warning during his sex trafficking trial, as the judge overseeing the courtroom scolded him for making facial expressions at the jurors.
“I was very clear there should be no facial expressions to the jury, and I could not have been clearer,” Judge Arun Subramanian told Combs’ attorneys during the lunch break on Thursday.
“There was a line of questioning where your client was nodding vigorously and looking at the jury,” he said, adding that it was “absolutely unacceptable.” “There should be no efforts to have any interactions with this jury,” said Subramanian, asking Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo if it would happen again.
On Thursday, the court heard testimony from Bryana Bongolan, a woman who claims Combs held her over a 17th-floor balcony, and a former romantic partner of Combs’ who is using the pseudonym “Jane.” Combs is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering.
If he’s convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
During his trial for sex trafficking, Sean “Diddy” Combs was placed on warning after the courtroom judge reprimanded him for eyeing the jurors.
During the Thursday lunch break, Judge Arun Subramanian informed Combs’ lawyers, “I was very clear there should be no facial expressions to the jury, and I could not have been clearer.”. It was “completely unacceptable,” he added, “that there was a line of questioning where your client was nodding vigorously and looking at the jury.”. “”.
“There should be no attempts to have any interactions with this jury,” Subramanian stated, inquiring as to whether it would occur again with Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo. “No, your honor, it won’t occur again,” Agnifilo answered.
In the event that Combs was unable to follow his directive, the judge threatened to “give an instruction to the jury or it could result in your client being excluded from the courtroom.”. “.”.
Though Combs has frequently maintained his composure throughout the court proceedings, he has occasionally looked over at the jurors and nodded in response to testimony, such as that of his former assistant George Kaplan. In addition to looking at the people in the press and public who are seated behind him, Combs frequently expresses gratitude to those in the friends and family section.
Bryana Bongolan, a woman who alleges Combs held her over a 17th-floor balcony, and Combs’s ex-girlfriend, also going by the pseudonym “Jane,” testified earlier Thursday. “”.
Combs faces charges related to both racketeering and sex trafficking. He might be imprisoned for the rest of his life if found guilty.
