Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ sex crimes trial took an unexpected turn after the jury was dismissed from the courtroom to begin deliberations.

Just two hours into the process, the judge received a note from the foreman reporting that one of the jurors was unlikely to follow the instructions the judge had laid out.

While the judge ultimately responded by reminding the jury of their responsibilities through a written note, a legal expert unaffiliated with the case described the situation as “significant” and suggested it could provide grounds for an appeal if Sean “Diddy” Combs is found guilty.

One Of The Jurors Caused A Snag In The Deliberations

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Just two hours into jury deliberations for Diddy’s sex crime trial, the process hit an unexpected snag due to an issue with one of the jurors.

According to TMZ, Juror 25, a 51-year-old Hispanic man with a PhD in molecular biology and neuroscience, was refusing to follow the judge’s instructions in determining Diddy’s guilt or innocence.

This concern led the jury to send a note to Judge Arun Subramanian, stating, “We have a juror, Juror 25, who we believe cannot follow Your Honor’s instructions.”

In response, Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, informed the judge to tell the jurors that it was too early in the deliberations for such concerns. Meanwhile, prosecutors recommended instructing jurors not to share details of their discussions.

Judge Subramanian ultimately responded with a note reminding the jury of his original instructions to follow the law and asked them to resume deliberations.

The Judge’s Instruction To The Jury

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During his instructions to the jury, Judge Subramanian explained the details of the racketeering charge. He stated that a guilty verdict should only be reached if the jury determines that Combs and any of his alleged co-conspirators agreed to commit at least two of the following crimes: sex trafficking, witness tampering, bribery, arson, forced labor, transportation to engage in prostitution, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and kidnapping.

These two crimes must also have been committed within a ten-year period of each other.

The judge also further informed the jury that their notes must not be shared either among themselves or on social media.

As part of his final instructions, Judge Subramanian directed the jury to select a foreperson to lead and coordinate their discussions.

He then formally dismissed the jury to begin deliberations and released the alternate jurors from their duties.

Expert Claims Jury Drama Is ‘Significant’

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While it is unclear whether the jury is leaning toward a guilty or not guilty verdict, an expert has stated that the issue with the juror is quite “significant.”

“There’s a wild card on this jury, and that is significant. It happened incredibly quickly. There’s a lot of give and take, back and forth,” said Alan Tuerkheimer, a lawyer and jury consultant.

Tuerkheimer further emphasized how “notable” the note from the jury was with regard to the case.

“Deliberations can get incredibly heated, and that’s part of the process. For the jurors to say that one juror is not going to follow the judge’s instructions, that is quite notable, especially at this early stage of the process,” he added, per US Weekly.

Should the verdict result in a guilty conviction, the expert believes the jury issue could help Diddy appeal the ruling.

“There’s already good grounds for any type of appeal by the defense should there be a conviction,” he further remarked.

Lawyer Claims Diddy Guilty Verdict Is ‘In The Bag’

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Another legal expert, who is not connected to the rapper’s ongoing federal case, weighed in on the trial.

In a chat with The U.S. Sun, Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani asserted that a guilty verdict is all but assured, despite what he characterized as a “weak” prosecution that notably failed to call the “most crucial witness.”

“I do believe the prosecution has done enough to convict Diddy, but it really depends on the crime,” Rahmani said.

He added, “I think prostitution is in the bag. It’s pretty clear that the entertainers were paid, and they were flown across state lines. There’s an interstate nexus.”

Diddy’s Former Bodyguard Believes The Rapper Won’t Get A Life Sentence

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While the world awaits the verdict, a former bodyguard for Diddy has shut down the possibility of the rapper getting a life sentence.

“He may be found guilty on some lesser charges,” said celebrity bodyguard Big Homie CC during an appearance on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” on Friday, per Us Weekly. “He might get four or five years, something like that. I don’t really see him getting a life sentence.”

A life sentence for Diddy would require the rapper to be found guilty of the racketeering charge. Meanwhile, he could face up to 15 years if convicted of sex trafficking and a maximum of 10 years for transporting to engage in prostitution.

As the jury continues deliberating, Diddy remains in a holding cell at the courthouse. He has been granted access to reading materials and has frequently been seen with books in hand throughout the course of the trial.