The intercourse trafficking trial in opposition to Sean “Diddy” Combs is nearing its finish on Thursday as New York prosecutors and Combs’ felony crew make their ultimate arguments — with out the hip-hop rich person ever taking the stand.
The court docket indicated that prosecutors would get 4 hours on Thursday, after which Combs’ legal professionals will take their activate Friday, adopted via an hour of prosecution rebuttal. The pass judgement on will then instruct the jury on related felony requirements they must observe to achieve a verdict. Jury deliberations may no longer get started till subsequent week.
As ultimate arguments started, a prosecutor instructed the jury that Combs used “energy, violence and concern” to rule a legal undertaking, which facilitated brutal intercourse crimes in addition to kidnapping and arson. Assistant U.S. Lawyer Christy Slavik stated Combs “does not take no for a solution” and “counted on silence and disgrace” to permit his abuse to proceed. She additionally stated he used a “small military” of staff to hurt girls after which quilt it up.
Combs, 55, has denied the allegations. He’s going through 15 years to existence in jail if he is convicted. The high-profile trial, which started Might 12, is likely one of the maximum intently watched famous person circumstances lately.
After calling on 34 witnesses over seven weeks — together with Combs’ ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura High-quality, and rapper Child Cudi — the prosecution rested Tuesday. The protection additionally rested that very same day with out calling any witnesses, presenting its case for lower than half-hour.
As is commonplace after prosecutors relaxation at legal trials, Combs’ legal professionals made arguments to toss out the costs, arguing the costs were not confirmed. The pass judgement on stated he’s going to rule at a later date.
Fees in opposition to Sean “Diddy” Combs
Combs has pleaded no longer to blame to 5 counts.
The primary rely is racketeering conspiracy, which alleges he “abused, threatened and coerced girls and others round him to meet his sexual wants, offer protection to his recognition, and hide his behavior.”Â
Prosecutors allege Combs depended on staff, sources and affect of his industry empire to create a legal undertaking that engaged in, or tried to have interaction in, “intercourse trafficking, pressured exertions, interstate transportation for the needs of prostitution, coercion and enticement to have interaction in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”Â
The opposite 4 counts allege intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution.Â
Prosecutors stated in a court docket submitting Wednesday that jury directions would no longer wish to deal with allegations referring to tried arson, tried kidnapping, or assisting and abetting intercourse trafficking, for the reason that executive “is now not making plans to continue on those theories of legal responsibility.”Â
Sean “Diddy” Combs determined not to testify
Combs instructed U.S. District Pass judgement on Arun Subramanian on Tuesday that when thorough discussions together with his legal professionals, he determined he would not testify.
“This is my choice, your honor,” Combs stated, including: “This is only my choice.”Â
Prodded via the pass judgement on, he clarified additional: “I imply, it is my choice with my legal professionals. … My choice to make. I am making it.”
Combs has been lively in his protection, steadily writing notes to his legal professionals and infrequently serving to them make a decision when to prevent wondering a witness. Previous this month, Subramanian threatened to probably have Combs got rid of from court docket after the pass judgement on stated Combs stored making expressions to the jury, together with taking a look at them and “nodding vigorously” right through the testimony of graphic fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, a pal of Ventura High-quality’s.
Prosecutors say Combs used connections to orchestrate “freak-offs”
Right through the primary week of the trial, Cassie Ventura High-quality used to be known as to the witness stand and testified that Combs burdened her into collaborating in “freak-offs,” drug-fueled episodes the place Combs is accused of forcing attendees to accomplish intercourse acts with employed intercourse staff.
Prosecutors have cited the occasions as proof of intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, alleging that Combs depended on staff, mates and his industry accounts to fly male intercourse staff to Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, the place his personnel arrange lodge rooms for the encounters and wiped clean up later on.
Over the last decade of her on-and-off dating with Combs, from 2007 till 2018, Ventura High-quality stated she used to be a part of loads of such occasions.
She additionally testified that Combs used to be psychologically and bodily abusive, as observed in safety photos of a 2016 Los Angeles lodge incident wherein Combs is proven punching and kicking her.
Different early witnesses integrated a former safety director on the lodge who testified that Combs bribed him over the incident, however he did not settle for. Any other witness used to be a supervisor for a male stripper display who stated he used to be shrunk via Combs and Ventura High-quality in 2012 to take part in “freak-offs.”
Combs’ legal professionals introduced the jury with most commonly loving messages between Combs and Ventura High-quality and argued that she used to be a prepared player. They stated Combs’ sexual behavior and his “kinky” swinger way of life do not quantity to intercourse trafficking.
Any other ex-girlfriend of Combs, who testified for 6 days underneath the pseudonym “Jane,” stated she felt burdened via Combs to do “lodge nights” with him. She testified she instructed Combs time and again she did not just like the lodge occasions involving medicine and, every now and then, a couple of male entertainers.Â
The protection countered with messages about her putting in those nights, reputedly excited. Jane stated she has been hanging them into point of view after starting treatment 3 months in the past, pronouncing she did them as a result of she beloved Combs and it is what he anticipated of his spouse.
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