The jury in the
sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs isn't expected to be finalized until Friday, two days later than expected.
Judge Arun Subramanian granted a request by lawyers Wednesday for extra time to decide who they will eliminate from the list of prospective jurors. It's the last step of a jury selection process that began when potential jurors filled out questionnaires last week.
For the past three days, the judge has been questioning prospective jurors one at a time to see who can be fair and unbiased. On Friday, lawyers on each side will be permitted to eliminate several individuals from the panel of jurors - for reasons they usually do not have to explain. That procedure, which typically takes an hour or less, produces the final jury of 12 plus alternates.
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Then on Monday, opening statements are scheduled for a trial that is expected to last up to two months in federal court in Manhattan.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he operated his businesses like a racketeering enterprise, using employees and other associates to help facilitate multiple crimes, including kidnapping, arson, bribery and sex trafficking.
After his September arrest at a New York hotel, Combs has remained jailed without bail while he fights racketeering and sex trafficking charges that could result in a sentence of up to life in prison if he is convicted.
Prosecutors say Combs used his fame and
fortune as a powerbroker in the hip-hop world to force young women into sexually abusive situations, including " Freak Offs," drugged-up orgies in which women were forced to have sex with male sex workers while Combs filmed them.
Combs' lawyers contend prosecutors are trying to police consensual sexual activity.