Sean Combs fell to his knees in a Manhattan courtroom as his trial verdict was read out, with legal experts calling the prosecution's case "a complete and total failure"

The jury acquitted Combs of the most serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, following a seven-week trial.

The racketeering charge alone had carried the possibility of a life sentence.

Combs was arrested in September 2024 and has remained in custody since, with several bail requests denied. His legal team has argued for his release ahead of sentencing, which is now pending a judge's decision.

While Combs and his family celebrated the partial acquittal, prosecutors are expected to oppose bail, citing legal grounds that detention is mandatory after conviction on such federal charges.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, spoke to The U.S. Sun following the outcome.

He said: "Today's verdict is nothing less than a complete and total failure by the prosecution in what will go down as the most expensive prostitution trial in American history.

"Even though the Mann Act carries a potential 10-year maximum sentence, Diddy is going to get time served or close to it. His sentencing guideline range may be as low as 15-21 months."

Prosecutors acknowledged in a letter to Judge Subramanian, obtained by The U.S. Sun, that the guideline sentence may range from 51 to 63 months.

Combs has already served nine months.

The letter noted: "The Government has not had adequate time to carefully consider all potentially applicable Guidelines provisions."

Rahmani said the sex trafficking charges were undermined by "evidence of consent" and added: "The prosecution's only real chance of a victory was racketeering and to prove a non-sex related predicate act like kidnapping, arson, extortion, or bribery. They failed to lean on and flip key members of Diddy's inner circle like KK and D-ROC."

He also noted none of the alleged sexual assault victims who have filed civil suits against Combs and who had no professional or romantic ties to him were called to testify.

New Mexico-based criminal defence attorney John W. Day also spoke to The U.S. Sun, saying: "They presented a tsunami of evidence against Diddy over many weeks, and the jurors did not buy their story. The government was trying to convince the jury that RICO - which was designed to go after the Mafia and mob organised crime families - should be applied to baby oil and Diddy's high-flying lifestyle in the music business, and the jury just was not convinced."

He added: "The prosecutors believed that Cassie Ventura and Jane - the girlfriend who testified under an alias - would tell a story of victimisation that the jury would feel empathy for, but they most likely just saw these witnesses as willing participants in the glamorous world of Diddy."

Actor Rosie O'Donnell wrote on Instagram following the verdict: "I guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion - wow - they just think women stay because what? money - fame - 'they love the abuse' - what a f****** joke - this decision got me angry #cassie."

Combs' legal team submitted a letter to Judge Subramanian outlining why he should be released from custody. They argued he is not a flight risk, has appeared at all hearings, and has behaved as a "model inmate".

The defence added "reasonable conditions would ensure" he would not have the opportunity to arrange to meet with escorts.

They also wrote: "The jury unambiguously rejected the government's allegations that Mr. Combs ran a years-long criminal enterprise or engaged in sex trafficking - the core of the government's case."