Sean 'Diddy' Combs' surprising reaction to the verdict in his sex-crimes trial
Sean 'Diddy' Combs and his defense team celebrated when he was acquitted of the three top criminal charges in his case.
After a grueling trial, Sean "Diddy" Combs learned his fate.
The music mogul, seated behind the defense table in court-approved clothes, was acquitted on the most serious charge in his sex-crimes trial on Wednesday, July 2. The decision to convict him on only two of five criminal charges was announced as part of a split verdict handed down by the 12-person jury.
After learning the jury had acquitted him of one count of racketeering and two counts of sex trafficking, Combs, 55, clasped his hands together and raised them up in a prayer motion toward the jury.
While the racketeering charge could have landed him in prison for life, the two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, of which he was convicted, each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, for a possible total of 20 years behind bars.
Diddy clapped, blew kisses to his children in courtroom
Combs held his hand to his face after the verdict was read, while his legal team embraced one another. He then kneeled down on the floor, turned to face the back of his chair, and put his head in his chair as if he were praying.
After several seconds, Combs stood up and faced his children in the front of the gallery. He clapped and blew kisses toward them, as well as his supporters.
In response, his children and other supporters in the courtroom clapped. Combs then hugged lawyer Brian Steel, before security walked Combs out of the room through a side door amid the cheers.
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Once a king-maker in the world of hip-hop, notorious for throwing lavish bashes, Combs has been sitting in a Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his September arrest.
Hours after the rapper's verdict was delivered, U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian denied bail for Combs, issuing an order to keep him incarcerated at the federal New York facility until his sentencing.
Lawyers for Combs argued that he was not a flight risk and should be released on bail. Meanwhile, the government countered that position: Given the seriousness of the crimes with which he was charged, he should remain in detention, the prosecution said.
Asked if he wanted to return to the detention center by the judge, Combs vigorously shook his head no, once again holding up his hands in a prayer motion to the judge.
"He would be nothing short of a fool to do anything" that would violate the court's restrictions, Combs' lead attorney Marc Agnifilo told Judge Subramanian. "He treasures the opportunity he has been given."
(This story was updated to include a new photo and photo gallery.)