Sean Combs jury selection - with an extra on a juror/alternate who made it on

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by Matthew Russell Lee

9:34 am - and we're off.
Judge Subramanian: Good morning. We are here for peremptory challenges.
AUSA Comey: We strike Juror 51.
Agnifilo: We strike 52 and 106.
Comey: We strike 216.
Agnifilo: 157 and 112.
Comey: We strike 118.
Agnifilo: We strike 127 and 131.

AUSA Comey: We strike 81.
Agnifilo: We strike 149 and 20.
Comey: We strike 161.
Agnifilo: We strike 22 and 84
Comey: The defense was only supposed to strike one in this round.
Agnifilo: So, we strike only only 22.
Comey: We strike 163.
Angifilo: We strike 84

AUSA Comey: We strike 220.
Agnifilo: We strike 25.
Comey: I believe he was supposed to strike in the alternative.
Agnifilo: Give me one second [Confers with Nicole Westmoreland] 218.
Comey: We strike 324.
Agnifilo: 240.
Comey: We strike 281.
Agnifilo: One moment

Combs' Agnifilo: I note that the Government has struck seven Black people out of nine strikes.
Judge Subramanian: I'll give you a change to raise that, but let's continue.
Agnfilo: We're strike 307.

Judge Subramanian: Our jurors 2, 5, 25, 28, 55, 58, 75, 116, 160, 184, 201, 217, 230, 234, 247, 292, 321, 330.
Agnifilo: The US struck 7 Black people which amounts to a pattern
Judge: An application has been made under Batson. Ms. Comey?
AUSA Comey: We are neutral

AUSA Comey: Juror 51 knew 17 of the names, appeared to have seen Making the Band, has a relative with law enforcement issues. The next strike, he harassed a police officer and didn't report it. His sister had an issue - this clears the bar, these are good reasons.

AUSA Comey: Juror 81, we think they claim to have special knowledge of bi-polar issues. 161, he said he watched news about the case that morning, he said it was inevitable. He'd lose 30% of his income but wants on - he has an agenda.

AUSA Comey: We struck 163, I believe for cause, due to English proficiency and he had a relative who shot a police officer. Among the alternates, we barred a person who went to Mr. Combs' high school. The next one, 324, has sleep apnea

AUSA Comey: He also called the police as*holes, we struck him. And 281, she said "victims can catch a case and jump on a bandwagon," we think she has an agenda. These easily clear Batson's bar.

Judge Subramanian: I deny the defense's Batson challenge, these were not based on purposeful discrimination. Mr. Agnifilo, anything more?
Agnifilo: Nothing from us.

Judge: We'll bring in the jury in a few minutes

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