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 Decide Arun Subramanian a lil’ praise. That got here after the decide reserved his resolution on a movement for acquittal on all expenses.
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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 yr.
Recap Of Each Sides Resting Their Case
Right now, the prosecution rested after greater than six weeks of proof presentation towards the hip-hop maven. In a routine transfer after prosecutors relaxation at legal trials, Combs’ legal professionals made arguments to toss out the costs. They claimed the costs weren’t confirmed. Decide Arun Subramanian stated he’ll rule at a later date. Diddy was previously acquitted as soon as in his profession in 2001 of all expenses 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 expenses that resulted in Combs’ September arrest.
Nonetheless, the protection says prosecutors didn’t show these expenses or that Diddy’s two ex-girlfriends felt coerced into marathon intercourse occasions with male intercourse employees. As a substitute, protection legal professionals say the “freak-offs” or “lodge nights” have been consensual sexual encounters in line with the swingers life-style.
Diddy Says THIS To The Trial Decide
For context, it’s normal follow at federal legal trials for the decide to straight query the defendant about whether or not to testify. This ensures that the defendant is aware of it’s his resolution, 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 could possibly be posed. “I wish to let you know thanks, you’re doing a superb job,” Combs stated. The decide responded, “Thanks, I recognize it.”
Combs stated he “completely” mentioned the matter together with his legal professionals earlier than deciding to not testify. “That’s my resolution, your honor,” Combs stated, including: “That’s solely my resolution.” Prodded by the decide, he clarified additional: “I imply, it’s my resolution with my legal professionals. … My resolution to make. I’m making it.”
Extra Particulars About The Final 7 Weeks Of Trial
For the reason that trial started in early Could, authorities witnesses have included former staff of Combs’ corporations. Nonetheless, many of the proof has come from the testimony of two former girlfriends: Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and an web persona who testified beneath the pseudonym “Jane.”
Ventura testified for 4 days throughout the trial’s first week. The 38-year-old stated she felt pressured to interact in a whole bunch 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 in regards to the sexual performances she labeled “lodge nights.” She stated she was placing them into perspective after starting remedy three months in the past. She stated she felt coerced into participating in them as not too long ago as final August, however did so as a result of she liked 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 satisfy him on the New York lodge 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 have been granted immunity from any crimes they could 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 determine 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 in every of his legal professionals. Prosecutors complained that his gestures have been a type of testifying with out being topic to cross-examination. The decide warned he may 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 product of the “freak offs” or “lodge nights.” A number of jurors sometimes appeared squeamish as they considered 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 through AP Newsroom.
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