Diddy trial juror officially kicked out over 'inconsistencies.' What happens now?
The judge in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-crimes trial has officially booted controversial Juror No. 6.
Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed the juror Monday, June 16, after nearly a week of back-and-forth over what prosecutors had described as the man's "lack of candor" about his living situation.
Subramanian previously said that there are "several inconsistencies" surrounding details about where Juror No. 6 lives and with whom he lives. The judge had explained that his reasoning for the removal was based on multiple interviews with the juror.
The judge told the court that in one instance, Juror No. 6 had an offhand conversation with a member of the jury department in which he indicated he recently moved in with his girlfriend in New Jersey, where he had been staying most of the time. Weeks ago, in a prospective juror interview, the juror said he lived in the Bronx with his fiancée and infant daughter. But in a different interview, when asked where he lived, the juror said he had an apartment in New York where he stayed four to five nights a week when he was working and doing jury duty. And in yet another interview, "he indicated he lived in New York with his aunt."
"The juror is unable to answer simple questions," Subramanian said June 13, adding that "there are serious questions about the juror's candor and ability to follow instructions."
Subramanian added that it "seems like a trivial matter," but it "goes to a juror's basic criteria to serve." Due to the juror's "changing answers and inconsistency," Subramanian said it raises questions about whether the juror was truthful in other questions more directly related to the case.
Combs' lawyers had objected to the dismissal, claiming the prosecution's push to remove the juror – a Black man – demonstrated racial bias.
In an opposition letter dated June 15, his lawyers said there is "no factual basis" to remove the man and that Combs would be "substantially prejudiced" by Juror No. 6's dismissal. They noted that if the juror was removed, they would once again move for a mistrial.
After a juror's dismissal, an alternative juror usually takes their place. Six alternates have been on the sidelines in the trial, now it its seventh week, though a replacement has not been officially announced by the judge.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Jay Shahl and Taijuan Moorman