Many of the jurors selected to hear Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal criminal case share common characteristics, but there are some that could be “wild cards,” according to a jury consulting expert.
A jury was finalized in the case on Monday. Brittany Wooten, a senior litigation consultant at Magna Legal Services, said the chosen jurors could benefit the prosecution.
“This is a jury with a heart,” Wooten told Newsweek. “They have social workers, caregivers, trauma-informed professionals who won’t shy away from the emotional testimony. I think that’s good from a prosecution standpoint.”
Wooten said there are some “wild cards” on the jury, including juror number two, a 69-year-old man who is an actor and massage therapist.
“You have somebody who you really don’t know is going to go one way or the other,” Wooten said. “As an actor, you’re going to be more emotionally attuned, but he could be also more liberal, more open-minded. But in massage therapy, and what I call a close proximity to body-related work, it could make him receptive or even desensitized to the non-traditional values.”
Wooten also mentioned juror number 25, a 51-year-old man with a PhD in molecular biology and neuroscience, “who might turn out to be a leader, highly analytical, likely focused on logic over emotion.”
Why It Matters
Combs is facing federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denies any wrongdoing.
Opening statements were given and the first witnesses were called on Monday after jury selection concluded. The jury selection process began on May 5.
What To Know
Hiliary Remick, managing director of jury consulting at Magna Legal Services, said the jury is not “very unbalanced,” but the prosecution might have a slight edge.
“There are some folks on there who might be appealing to the prosecution,” Remick told Newsweek.
Wooten said there are some individuals who could lean in the defense’s favor, including the investment analyst and the retired JP Morgan employee.
“The more logical and analytical the profession, the more likely they are to look carefully at what the accusations are, and that could help the defense,” Wooten said.
The jury consists of eight men and four women. Wooten said there’s “so much more to their backgrounds” than gender, but their experiences could play a role in how they evaluate the case.
“Men or women may interpret signals of consent or manipulation differently, just based on their life experiences or social conditioning,” Wooten said.
Remick explained how the women on the jury might view the alleged abuse in this case.
“To the extent any of the four women on the jury have had particular experiences in their own life or with people close to them involving abuse or sexual abuse, that might be a very sensitive issue,” Remick said.
What People Are Saying
Wooten, in an interview with Newsweek: “I think older jurors may be less swayed by the celebrity culture or emotional appeals, but more sensitive to the seriousness of the criminal allegations, especially if you believe the justice system is being misused or manipulated.”
Remick, in an interview with Newsweek: “We will be very interested to see even simple signals like responsiveness, or leaning forward, or following, tracking with their eyes one particular presenter over another. That could tell us something.”
What Happens Next
Combs’ trial is expected to last eight to 10 weeks. Combs is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
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