Earlier than his protection briefly offered its case, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs spoke brazenly within the courthouse for the primary time in weeks. In week seven, Diddy lastly answered the burning query that trial watchers have been asking. Will he testify? That reply is not any. And amid giving affirmation, Combs additionally threw Choose Arun Subramanian a lil’ praise. That got here after the decide reserved his choice on a movement for acquittal on all prices.
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Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible. He has remained incarcerated with out bail in a federal lockup in Brooklyn after a number of judges blocked his bail appeals final 12 months.
Recap Of Each Sides Resting Their Case
In the present day, the prosecution rested after greater than six weeks of proof presentation towards the hip-hop maven. In a routine transfer after prosecutors relaxation at prison trials, Combs’ legal professionals made arguments to toss out the fees. They claimed the fees weren’t confirmed. Choose Arun Subramanian mentioned he’ll rule at a later date. Diddy was previously acquitted as soon as in his profession in 2001 of all prices associated to a nightclub taking pictures, whereas Shyne served 9 years for it.
Later within the afternoon, the protection rested with out calling any witnesses. Compared, prosecutors have known as 34 witnesses to attempt to show intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy prices that resulted in Combs’ September arrest.
Nonetheless, the protection says prosecutors didn’t show these prices or that Diddy’s two ex-girlfriends felt coerced into marathon intercourse occasions with male intercourse employees. As an alternative, protection legal professionals say the “freak-offs” or “resort nights” had been consensual sexual encounters per the swingers life-style.
Diddy Says THIS To The Trial Choose
For context, it’s customary apply at federal prison trials for the decide to instantly query the defendant about whether or not to testify. This ensures that the defendant is aware of it’s his choice, no matter what his legal professionals have instructed him. When Subramanian questioned Combs after the prosecutors rested, the decide requested him how he was doing.
“I’m doing nice, your honor,” the Unhealthy Boy Leisure founder answered, earlier than volunteering a praise to the decide earlier than one other query might be posed. “I wish to let you know thanks, you’re doing a superb job,” Combs mentioned. The decide responded, “Thanks, I respect it.”
Combs mentioned he “completely” mentioned the matter along with his legal professionals earlier than deciding to not testify. “That’s my choice, your honor,” Combs mentioned, including: “That’s solely my choice.” Prodded by the decide, he clarified additional: “I imply, it’s my choice with my legal professionals. … My choice to make. I’m making it.”
Extra Particulars About The Final 7 Weeks Of Trial
Because the trial started in early Might, authorities witnesses have included former staff of Combs’ corporations. Nonetheless, a lot of the proof has come from the testimony of two former girlfriends: Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and an web persona who testified below the pseudonym “Jane.”
Ventura testified for 4 days in the course of the trial’s first week. The 38-year-old mentioned she felt pressured to have interaction in a whole lot of “freak offs” as a result of the encounters would allow her to be intimate with Combs after performing sexually with male intercourse employees. He allegedly watched them slather each other with child oil and typically filmed the encounters.
In the meantime, Jane testified for six days concerning the sexual performances she labeled “resort nights.” She mentioned she was placing them into perspective after starting remedy three months in the past. She mentioned she felt coerced into partaking in them as not too long ago as final August, however did so as a result of she cherished and nonetheless loves Combs. Ventura was in a relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018, whereas Jane was steadily with him from 2021 till his arrest. The arrest canceled her plan to fulfill him on the New York resort the place feds took him into custody.
Protection legal professionals questioned the witnesses all through the trial to make their case for exoneration. A number of of them testified reluctantly or solely after they had been granted immunity from any crimes they might have dedicated.
No Testimony, However He’s Been Defending Himself From His Seat
Combs has been energetic in his protection. He’s written notes to his legal professionals, typically serving to them resolve when to cease questioning a witness. As soon as, the decide known as him for nodding enthusiastically towards jurors throughout a profitable stretch of cross-examination by one among his legal professionals. Prosecutors complained that his gestures had been a type of testifying with out being topic to cross-examination. The decide warned he might exclude Diddy from his trial if it occurred once more.
Up to now week, prosecutors and protection legal professionals have proven jurors over 40 minutes of recordings Combs manufactured from the “freak offs” or “resort nights.” A number of jurors often appeared squeamish as they seen and listened to audio of the encounters, however most didn’t appear to react. Closing arguments are set to start on Thursday.
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Related Press Employees Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister contributed to this report by way of AP Newsroom.
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