The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial began deliberations on Monday following closing arguments that presented sharply contrasting narratives about whether the music mogul coerced former girlfriends into drug-fuelled sexual acts.

The 12-member panel exited the courtroom after U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian issued legal instructions, reminding jurors to reach their own conclusions.

“Each of you must make your own decision about the proper outcome of this case,” the judge said. “No juror should surrender his or her conscientious beliefs for the purpose of returning a unanimous verdict.”

A unanimous verdict is required, but no timeline has been set for when deliberations must conclude.

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all five counts, the former billionaire and influential hip-hop figure could face a life sentence.

During more than six weeks of testimony in Manhattan federal court, the jury heard from two of Combs’ former girlfriends — singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a woman identified only as Jane — who claimed Combs forced them to participate in sexually explicit encounters with paid male escorts, sometimes referred to as “Freak Offs,” while he observed, masturbated, and occasionally filmed the events.

Both women testified that Combs was physically abusive. Jurors were also shown surveillance footage from a hotel hallway in 2016, where Combs was seen assaulting Ventura.

In her closing argument on Thursday, prosecutor Christy Slavik said, “Cassie repeatedly told you that the defendant’s violence was in the back of her mind whenever he proposed a Freak Off. The whole point was to control Cassie, to make her afraid to say no to the defendant. And it worked.”

Defense lawyers conceded that Combs had been violent in some of his relationships, but they maintained that both Ventura and Jane had willingly taken part in the encounters. They pointed to affectionate and sexually explicit text messages exchanged over the course of their long relationships with Combs to argue that the interactions were consensual. (ARISE NEWS)