Diddy trial judge meets with lawyers to discuss jury instructions

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Today, Judge Arun Subramanian and the attorneys on both sides of the case held what’s known as a charge conference — a meeting where the key players finalize instructions for the jury. (The jurors, who have spent much of the last seven weeks listening to testimony and reviewing evidence, got a day off.)

Subramanian opened the conference by announcing that prosecutors and defense lawyers had agreed on language for the verdict form. He then turned his attention to the charge sheet, a document that explains the counts against the defendant. The judge gave the attorneys a chance to raise objections page by page, line by line, word by word.

In other news: U.S. government prosecutors are tightening their case against Diddy. In a letter filed yesterday, they asked the judge to strike language regarding “attempted” kidnapping and arson from jury instructions. NBC News’ David K. Li has more details here.

The stage is now set for closing arguments. Reminder: U.S. government prosecutors are seeking to convict Diddy on three charges — racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Diddy has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have insisted he was never the head of an alleged criminal enterprise.