Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent

Image source, Reuters / Jane Rosenberg

The jury has now gone home for the day after starting their deliberations this morning, when the judge read out their instructions.

But a short while after the jurors were sent out of court, they returned a note indicating that one of the jurors had some sort of issue with following the judge's instructions. Lawyers on both sides agreed that the best course of action was to tell the jury to go back and carry on deliberating.

There's no sense of what about this particular juror might be a concern, and issues like this are why juries seat alternates at the beginning of a trial.

But the proceedings today underline just how complex this case is. There are five charges that Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing - and the jury of eight men and four women have a lot to weigh up as they decide whether or not he is guilty.

Do they accept the government's case, which is that Combs carried out sexual abuse and violence against two women, including his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, by using his business empire as some sort of criminal enterprise?

Or do they believe the defence's arguments, which is that the hip hop mogul had a complicated and extreme private life, but it was just that: private. They say there was was nothing criminal about it, and the government has overreached in these charges.

The case is now in the jury's hands. If Combs is found guilty on the most serious charges of racketeering conspiracy, he could face up to life in prison.

We are pausing our live coverage of this case for now, but we'll be back with more from court on Tuesday. You can read more about how witness testimony in the case went down over the last several weeks here: Who testified in the Diddy trial?

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

For now, Judge Arun Subramanian has instructed the jury to continue deliberating, even after they raised concerns about one of those sat amongst them.

But if the issue continues, a juror who repeatedly "cannot follow your honour's instructions" - even after being admonished - presents only two options for the judge, according to former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani.

Judge Subramanian could "dismiss the juror" and replace them with an alternate, or declare a mistrial - and "we’ll have to start all over," she says.

"The defence has to be feeling good right now.”

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

The developments in court today - when the jury sent two questions to the judge on their first day of deliberations - may turn out to be a positive sign for Combs for two reasons, Mitch Epner, a New York-based lawyer and former prosecutor, tells me.

"First, it is unusual for the jurors to send a note to the judge this early, other than asking for logistical help. Second, this note indicates that there may already be a breakdown in the deliberative process," he says.

A conviction requires all jurors to unanimously agree on a verdict.

It is unclear why fellow jurors are concerned with juror number 25, or why they are having trouble following the judge's instructions.

Epner says that a juror can be removed for refusing to deliberate on a case, but cannot be removed for "having come to a fixed conclusion about the proper verdict".

We'll have to wait to see how this all plays out as deliberations continue.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Court has adjourned, and we've just ended our first day of jury deliberations in the Diddy sex trafficking case after weeks of testimony.

We have a bit more information now about that second note from the jury we just told you about - it was a message from jurors asking the judge to clarify a part of their instructions. They want to know: if a person request a controlled substance, is the person who then gives them the drugs considered a distributor?

The judge says the court will get back to them with a response tomorrow, when jurors told the judge in a third note that they plan to resume deliberations at 9 EDT (1400BST).

We're just learning that the jury has sent another note to the judge. Defence attorney Marc Agnifilo is holding the note in the courtroom and re-reading it, whispering to Sean "Diddy" Combs, according to reporters in the courtroom from the BBC's US partner CBS.

This is the second note the jury has sent today. Earlier, jurors told the judge of concerns juror number 25 could be unable to follow the judge's instructions.

A note was sent back to the jury from the judge, telling them they had a duty to deliberate and follow the court's instructions.

Stand by as we await more details from court.

Combs' defence team finished their closing arguments on Friday. Defence attorney Marc Agnifilo struck an at times sarcastic tone in the court - here are the takeaways from his argument:

'Badly exaggerated': Agnifilo argued that the prosecutors' case is "badly, badly exaggerated" - and visibly animated, he said the trial isn't about criminal acts, but about persecuting Combs for a swinger's "lifestyle".

A fake trial?: The defence attorney argued that the jury is considering two trials - a "fake" trial created by the prosecution, and the real version that the jury can see based on the evidence. He sometimes struck a sarcastic tone.

Objections: Agnifilo's arguments were at times met with objections from the prosecution - Judge Arun Subramanian sided with the prosecutors about the defence's "grossly improper" claims.

As a reminder: Combs is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution - he denies all the charges.

Image source, Jane Rosenberg / Reuters

Artist Jane Rosenberg has shared this sketch of Sean "Diddy" Combs and his legal team in the courtroom when the jury sent a note to the judge.

In the image, they are discussing how to respond to the note.

As a reminder, the note said there were concerns juror number 25 would not follow the judge's instructions.

A note was sent back to the jury, telling them they had a duty to deliberate and follow the court's instructions.

The judge in the Sean "Diddy" Combs case has responded to a jury note over potential concerns by telling them they should continue deliberating.

But what exactly must jurors consider as they decide whether the music mogul is guilty or not guilty on counts of racketeering, sex trafficking and more?

The BBC's Nada Tawfik explains below:

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty
Podcast host, Diddy on Trial

The BBC's Diddy on Trial podcast has followed every twist and turn in Diddy’s case since November 2024.

From bombshell allegations of so-called "freak-offs", to testimony from Grammy-winning rapper Kid Cudi, there have been headline-making moments every week.

We're bringing you all the updates straight from court in New York.

You can listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds or watch on our YouTube channel, external.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Judge Subramanian will respond to the note from jurors we just told you about.

Lawyers debated for a little while over how to address the message.

Both sides agreed they want to encourage the jurors to keep deliberating, and do not want to ask for more info about the issue raised with juror number 25.

The two sides offered different proposals with how to move forward, though.

Prosecutors' proposed note to the jurors reminds them that they have a "duty" to deliberate and follow the judge's instructions, and should refrain from giving anything away about their deliberations in the notes.

Combs's defence lawyers wanted to include a note to the jury telling them that deliberations have only just begun - but the judge rejected this, saying that language implies their concerns are insignificant and that there is pre-set time frame for deliberations.

He chose to send them prosecutors' note, which also tells jurors that if there's a further issue, they should reach out again.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

An hour into deliberation, the judge received a note from the jury’s foreperson.

"We have a juror, number 25, that we are concerned cannot follow your honour's instructions," it read.

The note requested the judge talk to the jury or interview juror number 25.

Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested they send a note back telling the jury deliberations are still early and to try and work through it.

The jury has sent a note to the court, and it's about one of their own members.

The note informs the judge there is a concern regarding juror number 25, and their ability to follow the judge's instructions.

Judge Arun Subramanian is drafting a note, asking if the concern is regarding their understanding of the case, or another matter.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

We just had lunch in the court’s cafeteria, where Combs’ mother and her team eat lunch most days alongside journalists and the public.

Today, a table of Combs’ supporters started clapping and cheering as she walked past, and a member of her team smiled and thanked them.

Sean Combs and both legal teams have returned to the courtroom after the jury sent a note.

They are reading it now.

Image source, Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Sean Combs is currently in a holding cell at the courthouse while he waits for the jury to deliver a verdict.

The hip hop mogul has been behind bars since his September 2024 arrest, held in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York.

Known as the MDC, it’s had a host of notorious inmates.

Combs has reportedly shared the same unit as cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried, who once ran a company worth billions but was convicted on multiple counts of fraud.

And previously it has been home to rapper R Kelly and Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislane Maxwell.

• Read more: 'Chaos reigns' - the notorious jail holding Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Nada Tawfik
New York correspondent

This Manhattan courthouse has pulled back the curtain on the private life of one of hip hop’s biggest icons.

The mogul and producer admits that he beat his partners - had a drug problem - and that he enjoyed so-called "freak offs" - or prolonged sexual encounters between his girlfriends and male prostitutes.

But Sean "Diddy" Combs insists the sex was consensual. So is he guilty of running a criminal enterprise and sex trafficking?

The jury will need to weigh the evidence to decide if he’s just a flawed individual being unfairly targeted by overzealous prosecutors and women after money. Or if he’s someone who used his vast wealth, power and influence to manipulate, trap and force women to fulfil his sexual desires.

There’s video and photo evidence - text messages - hotel and financial records - flight logs. But ultimately this case hinges on who the jury believes.

Cassie Ventura and Jane spoke in harrowing detail about the physical toll the "freak offs" and drugs took on their bodies - how Diddy controlled every aspect of their life - and his threats including blackmail.

Diddy didn’t testify and jurors can’t hold that against him, because the burden is on the government to prove its case. But his lawyers said the women were free to leave at any time - and when they did - nothing happened.

The defence claimed the women were just as enthusiastic about the “swinger” lifestyle. So - was there a power imbalance? Was every "freak off" consensual - or did they eventually turn into sex trafficking when the women told him they didn’t want to do them anymore?

Those are all important questions in this case.

Image source, Jane Rosenberg / Reuters

Members of the media are not allowed to take cameras into the Manhattan courthouse, so we rely on artists to show you what it looks like inside.

Jane Rosenberg has just shared this latest sketch.

It shows Sean "Diddy" Combs passing a note to his attorney Marc Agnifilo as Judge Arun Subramanian gives legal instructions to the jury.

The judge has granted a request from the defence team for Sean Combs to be allowed several books as we wait for a verdict. He will be in a holding cell until that moment happens.

We don't know how long deliberations might take, but the judge told jurors they have as long as they need to come to a unanimous verdict.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

Judge Arun Subramanian has been full of personality throughout this trial, and he cemented that today in his farewell to the jurors.

He thanked them for their time and said he would have someone give each juror his personal contact if they have questions about their service or anything else.

"If you want a tour of the courthouse, it’s the least I can do," he says.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

The jurors will have an extensive verdict sheet to fill out.

Not only do they have to determine if Combs is guilty or not guilty on all five counts, they also have to decide if the prosecution met the burden of proof for each offence under the racketeering charge (arson, kidnapping, bribery, and several others).

When they’re done deliberating, they will fill out that sheet and the foreperson will inform the court.

Each charge and offence will be read out in open court along with each of their verdicts.