Sean “Diddy” Combs, dealing with critical federal costs together with intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, has confirmed he won’t testify in his protection. The hip-hop mogul’s determination got here Tuesday after federal prosecutors concluded a six-week case stacked with explosive allegations and 34 witnesses, together with two of his former romantic companions.
“I’m doing nice, your honor,” Combs mentioned in court docket when U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian requested how he was holding up. With out ready for the following query, the Unhealthy Boy Data founder added, “I need to inform you thanks, you’re doing a superb job.”
Decide Subramanian’s inquiry adopted customary process in federal trials, making certain the defendant is absolutely conscious of their proper to testify or not, unbiased of authorized counsel. Combs responded clearly: “That’s my determination, your honor… That’s solely my determination.” He later clarified, “I imply, it’s my determination with my legal professionals. … My determination to make. I’m making it.”
Earlier within the day, the prosecution formally rested its case. The protection adopted go well with shortly after, calling no witnesses. Protection attorneys moved to dismiss the costs outright, arguing the federal government had didn’t show its case. Decide Subramanian mentioned a ruling would come at a later time.
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The federal government’s case hinges on accounts from girls who allege they had been coerced into elaborate sexual rituals labeled “freak-offs” or “resort nights.” Amongst them was Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who dated Combs from 2007 to 2018, and a mannequin identified solely as “Jane,” who was concerned with him from 2021 till his September arrest.
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Ventura, 38, testified over 4 days that Combs pressured her into lots of of such encounters with male intercourse staff, a few of which he filmed. Jane, who testified throughout six days, described comparable experiences, sharing that she started to course of their influence solely after starting remedy earlier this 12 months.
“I felt I didn’t do a lot, however after the track got here out, my followers made me understand it was one of the best,” she admitted. “Generally I need to quit, after which I get a DM saying, ‘I really like your music,’ and that’s my wake-up name.”
Prosecutors argue the testimonies, together with video proof proven to jurors final week, set up a sample of coercion. The court docket was proven greater than 40 minutes of specific recordings that Combs had taken himself. Whereas some jurors appeared visibly uncomfortable, most maintained composure. Prosecutors declare these movies again up their costs; protection lawyer Geragos, nevertheless, known as them “highly effective proof that the sexual conduct on this case was consensual and never based mostly on coercion.”
All through the trial, Combs, who has pleaded not responsible and stays in custody at a federal facility in Brooklyn, has remained deeply concerned in his protection technique. He regularly handed notes to attorneys and provided enter throughout witness cross-examinations.
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Nonetheless, his courtroom demeanor drew consideration when prosecutors complained he was making an attempt to sway the jury with nonverbal cues. The decide issued a warning, stating that Combs may very well be faraway from the courtroom if the habits continued.
The prosecution’s witnesses included former workers of Combs’ firms, a number of of whom testified beneath immunity. The protection opted to not name witnesses of its personal, relying as an alternative on aggressive cross-examination to discredit the federal government’s narrative.
Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in September and denied bail after judges concluded he posed a threat to the neighborhood. As closing arguments strategy, scheduled for Thursday, the case strikes into its remaining stage, one that would decide the way forward for considered one of hip-hop’s most iconic and embattled figures.
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