Lu cohen
Allegations of sexual misconduct against rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs attracted wide media attention, including various documentaries and podcasts, in the last year and a half, staining the reputation of the tycoon previously known for its life history of poverty to wealth and by raising hip hop in American culture.
On Monday (28), with their criminal trial on charges of sexual trafficking just a few weeks away, Comb lawyers will start searching for judges who have not yet decided on the artist and entrepreneur.
Hundreds of residents of New York who were summoned to the jury will arrive at the Federal Court this week to fulfill questionnaires asking what they already know about the case. This is the first step towards the formation of a 12 jurors panel and six alternates that will determine Combs destination after a trial that should last from eight to ten weeks.
Although the judge and lawyers on both parties know the names of the jurors, their identities will not be disclosed to the public. Anonymous juries are not the standard in the US criminal justice system, but are often used in high profile judgments to protect jurors from possible harassment or threats.
Combs is accused of forcing women to participate in elaborate sexual performances with professional sex men over two decades. He declared himself innocent, and his lawyers argued that the sexual acts described by the prosecutors were consensual.
Combs has been under the spotlight for decades and is known for founding Bad Boy Records, turning artists such as Notorious Big and Usher into stars, and living a luxurious lifestyle, worthy of a celebrity whose equity was estimated by Forbes by more than $ 1 billion ($ 5.66 billion) in 2022.
His fall since he was indicted last September has been widely documented, including several documentaries and podcasts, such as Max’s “The Fall of P. Diddy” miniseries and Daily Mail’s “The Try of Diddy” podcast.
Media saturation can leave many potential jurors with the impression that it is probably guilty, said Christina Marinakis, a jury consultant.
“As part of the defense, you really want to have jurors who have not heard anything about this case or know a lot, very little about it, so that they arrive with a blank screen,” said Marinakis, executive president of Imbusion Legal Jury.
Following the questionnaires completed by the jurors, the defense lawyers and the prosecutors will present to the district judge Arun Subrmanian a list of those who both parties agree that they must continue the selection process, as well as those that must be dismissed and those over which there is no consensus. The judge may hold an audience to resolve any disputes.
From May 5, Subramanian will personally interrogate the remaining jurors, a process designed to detect evidence of potential bias. Subramanian will dispense with those who consider unable to be just and impartial. The accusation and defense may then dispense with a limited number of jurors without justifying.
Source: Folha
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