Jurors are set to start out deliberating Monday in Sean “Diddy” Combs ’ intercourse trafficking case, weighing prices that might put the hip-hop mogul in jail for all times.
After receiving authorized directions from federal Decide Arun Subramanian, the jury of eight males and 4 ladies will head behind closed doorways to deliberate. They will sift via seven weeks of generally graphic and emotional testimony in regards to the rap, style and actuality TV impresario ‘s propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, together with drug-fueled intercourse marathons dubbed “ freak-offs ” or “hotel nights.”
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to federal prices of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of intercourse trafficking — relating to 2 of his ex-girlfriends — and two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly intercourse employees throughout state traces.
In closing arguments final week, federal prosecutors and Combs’ protection staff took their final pictures at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founding father of Dangerous Boy Information.
“The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,” Assistant U.S. Legal professional Christy Slavik mentioned. “He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law.”
Protection lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, “This isn’t about crime. It’s about cash.” He famous that one in all Combs’ accusers within the prison case additionally sued him in civil courtroom.
In all, 34 witnesses testified, headlined by Combs’ former girlfriends Cassie — the R&B singer born Casandra Ventura — and “ Jane,” who testified below a pseudonym. Each ladies mentioned he usually was violent towards them and compelled them into a whole lot of sexual encounters with paid male intercourse employees.
Jurors additionally noticed now-infamous safety digital camera video of Combs beating, kicking and dragging Cassie at a Los Angeles resort in 2016 and clips from movies of sexual encounters.
Combs selected to not testify, and his legal professionals didn’t name any witnesses of their protection case. His attorneys elected as a substitute to problem the accusers’ credibility throughout prolonged cross-examination questioning.
The protection has acknowledged that Combs veered into violence, however his legal professionals preserve that the intercourse acts have been consensual. They contend that prosecutors are intruding in Combs’ private life and that he’s executed nothing to warrant the costs in opposition to him.
Right here’s what to know in regards to the case:
What are the costs?
The three-time Grammy Award winner has pleaded not responsible to 5 felony prices: one rely of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of intercourse trafficking by power, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution.
Prosecutors say Combs coerced ladies into abusive intercourse events involving employed male intercourse employees, ensured their compliance with medicine like cocaine and threats to their careers, and silenced victims via blackmail and violence that included kidnapping, arson and beatings.
“He’s the chief of a prison enterprise. He doesn’t take no for a solution,” Assistant U.S. Legal professional Christy Slavik mentioned in her closing arguments on Thursday.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, portrayed the Dangerous Boys Information founder because the sufferer of overzealous prosecutors who exaggerated components of his life-style and leisure drug use to convey prices that resulted in what he known as a “fake trial.”
After 29 days and 34 witnesses, either side have rested within the sex-trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. NBC New York’s Erica Byfield reviews.
Key items of proof
Early within the trial, prosecutors confirmed jurors 2016 safety video of Combs beating and kicking his former longtime girlfriend Cassie at a Los Angeles resort. Cassie, an R&B singer whose authorized title is Casandra Ventura, testified the assault passed off as she was making an attempt to depart one of many sexual encounters, which witnesses say he known as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.”
Jurors noticed quite a few express clips of such encounters, some involving Cassie and others involving a later girlfriend who was recognized solely by the the pseudonym “Jane.”
Each ladies took the stand.
Cassie testified over 4 days that she participated in a whole lot of the occasions with paid intercourse employees whereas she and Combs have been in a relationship from 2007 till 2018, usually feeling like she did not have a selection. She sued Combs in 2023, alleging years of abuse. He settled inside hours, and dozens of comparable lawsuits adopted.
Jane testified over six days that she was romantically concerned with Combs from 2021 till his September arrest at a New York resort, and that she, too, felt compelled to have intercourse with the employed strangers in multiday intercourse marathons whereas Combs watched.
The Related Press doesn’t typically determine individuals who say they’re victims of sexual abuse until they arrive ahead publicly, as Cassie has executed.
Testimony additionally included hours of textual content message exchanges, a few of which concerned Combs or different individuals in his orbit, that have been learn aloud by a Homeland Safety Investigations agent.
In all, 34 individuals took the stand, all of them known as by the prosecution.
Combs didn’t testify.
How will jury deliberations work?
Decide Arun Subramanian will give directions to the jurors on Monday earlier than sending them off to deliberate contained in the Manhattan federal courthouse.
The jury of 8 males and 4 ladies should unanimously resolve responsible or not responsible on every rely.
Which means all 12 jurors should agree. If jurors don’t attain an settlement, they may come again and say they’re deadlocked.
Historically, the choose would then encourage them to proceed deliberating, but when they will’t attain a consensus, it will be as much as the choose to resolve whether or not to declare a mistrial.
