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Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial, from jury selection to verdict, as seen through courtroom sketches

Jane Rosenberg’s drawings depicted the hip-hop mogul, his lawyers, the prosecution, the judge and witnesses in various states and moods.

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5 min read
Courtroom sketch from Sean Combs trial.
Sean "Diddy" Combs as the jury foreperson and courtroom deputy read the verdict before Judge Arun Subramanian on Wednesday. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

The jury in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs delivered its verdict on Wednesday, finding the 55-year-old hip-hop mogul guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitting him on the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

The federal trial was not televised, and no photo or video recordings were allowed inside the courtroom. So the only images of the reactions to the verdict were portraits by sketch artists, including Jane Rosenberg, whose drawings captured Combs pumping his fist and dropping to his knees under the defense table.

Courtroom sketch from Sean Combs trial.
Combs reacts to the verdict in court on Wednesday in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Sean Combs trial.
Combs reacts as the verdict is read on Wednesday. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

Over the course of the seven-week trial, Rosenberg depicted Combs, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, lawyers for both sides, and witnesses in various states and moods.

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In Rosenberg’s sketches, Combs often appeared to be listening intently as ex-girlfriends, former assistants and male escorts testified against him, and evidence surrounding his drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters called "freak offs" was displayed for the jury.

Courtroom sketch from Sean Combs trial.
Defense lawyers comfort Combs while discussing how to handle a note sent by jurors on Tuesday. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Sean Combs trial.
Combs and attorney Marc Agnifilo at the defense table on Tuesday. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs sits at the defense table as he listens to his lawyer speak on May 9. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Sean "Diddy" Combs watches surveillance footage from 2016 showing him dragging former girlfriend Cassie Ventura inside a Los Angeles hotel at his sex trafficking trial on June 4. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
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Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Sean "Diddy" Combs listens as celebrity stylist Deonte Nash is questioned by prosecutor Maurene Comey on May 28. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs looks at surveillance footage of his 2016 assault on former girlfriend Cassie Ventura as hotel security guard Eddy Garcia testifies on June 3. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
In courtroom sketch, prosecutor Emily Johnson points to Combs.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson points to Combs, May 12. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs watches sex tapes shown to the jury during his sex trafficking trial on June 17. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
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Courtroom sketch of Combs's trial.
Sean "Diddy" Combs raises his hands as he is identified by Dawn Richard during his sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 16. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

He was also seen smiling and gesturing to family members inside the courtroom and hugging his attorneys multiple times throughout the trial.

Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs waves to supporters as he arrives in court on June 24. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs makes a heart gesture as he enters the courtroom for his sex trafficking trial on May 28. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs embraces his attorneys before the start of the day's proceedings on June 6. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
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Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs embraces lawyer Anna Estevao as he enters the courtroom on May 16. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs tries to warm himself up as he shivers during a break in his trial on May 20. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

His alleged victims, including Cassie Ventura (who was more than eight months pregnant when she testified) and two women who testified under pseudonyms, were also captured in Rosenberg’s sketches.

Per the judge’s order, the faces of the latter two were not sketched on purpose in order to protect their anonymity. Yet Rosenberg’s drawings still managed to depict their emotional testimony.

Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs watches as former girlfriend Cassie Ventura is sworn in as a prosecution witness before District Judge Subramanian at his sex trafficking trial on May 13. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Cassie Ventura wipes away tears during her testimony on May 13. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
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Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs looks on as an image of Cassie Ventura's bruises is shown on a screen during his sex trafficking trial on May 14. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs watches as "Mia" testifies at his sex trafficking trial on May 29. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs watches as "Jane" testifies at his sex trafficking trial on June 9. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

Here are some of Rosenberg's other sketches from the trial.

Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs watches proceedings as text messages between him and his former chief of staff Kristina Khorram are shown at his sex trafficking on June 23. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
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Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Cassie Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan demonstrates how she said Combs lifted her over the balcony of Ventura's 17th-floor apartment during her testimony on June 4. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Kid Cudi listens to questions from prosecutors at Combs's sex trafficking trial on May 22. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
A photo showing damage to Kid Cudi's Porsche is shown in court as he testifies on May 22. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs confers with his lawyers after they met with Judge Subramanian behind closed doors on June 9. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
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Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs's former assistant Capricorn Clark cries while testifying on May 27. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Courtroom sketch from Combs's trial.
Combs rubs his forehead as he listens to testimony at his sex trafficking trial on May 21. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
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