Sean “Diddy” Combs instructed the choose at his intercourse trafficking trial that he is doing an “wonderful job” as he confirmed Tuesday (Jun 24) that he received’t testify.
Combs made the remark to US District Choose Arun Subramanian after being requested about testifying.
The query was posed by the Manhattan jurist after the prosecution rested following a greater than six-week-long presentation of proof in opposition to the hip-hop maven. Later within the afternoon, the defence rested with out calling any witnesses.
In a routine incidence after prosecutors relaxation at prison trials, Combs’ legal professionals made arguments to toss out the costs, arguing the costs weren’t confirmed. The choose stated he’ll rule at a later date.
Prosecutors have known as 34 witnesses to attempt to show intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy expenses that resulted in Combs’ September arrest, together with two ex-girlfriends of Combs who testified they felt coerced into marathon intercourse occasions with male intercourse staff that have been known as “freak-offs” or “resort nights”.
Defence legal professionals, although, say they have been consensual sexual encounters in step with the swingers life-style.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible and has remained incarcerated with out bail in a federal lockup in Brooklyn after a number of judges concluded final fall that he was a hazard to the neighborhood.
It’s normal observe at federal prison trials for the choose to straight query the defendant concerning the choice to testify or not, partly to make sure that the defendant is aware of it’s his choice, no matter what his legal professionals have instructed him.
When it got here time for Subramanian to query Combs after prosecutors rested, the choose requested him how he is doing.
“I am doing nice, your honour,” the Dangerous Boy Leisure founder answered, earlier than volunteering a praise to the choose earlier than one other query might be posed.
“I need to let you know thanks, you’re doing a superb job,” Combs stated.
Combs stated he “completely” mentioned the matter along with his legal professionals earlier than deciding to not testify.
“That’s my choice, your honour,” Combs stated, including: “That’s solely my choice.”
Prodded by the choose, he clarified additional: “I imply, it’s my choice with my legal professionals. … My choice to make. I’m making it.”
Because the trial started in early Could, authorities witnesses have included former workers of Combs’ firms, however the bulk of its proof has come from the testimony of two former girlfriends: Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a mannequin and web character recognized to jurors solely by the pseudonym “Jane.”
Ventura, 38, testified for 4 days through the trial’s first week, saying she felt pressured to interact 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 staff whereas he watched them slather each other with child oil and typically filmed the encounters.
Jane testified for six days concerning the sexual performances she labelled “resort nights”, saying that she was placing them into perspective after starting remedy three months in the past. She stated she felt coerced into partaking 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 incessantly with him from 2021 till his arrest, which cancelled her plan to fulfill him on the New York resort the place he was taken into custody.
The Related Press doesn’t usually determine individuals who say they’re victims of sexual abuse except they arrive ahead publicly, as Cassie has achieved.
All through the trial, defence legal professionals have made their case for exoneration by way of their questioning of witnesses, together with a number of who testified reluctantly or solely after they have been granted immunity from any crimes they might have dedicated.
Combs has been energetic in his defence, writing notes to his legal professionals and typically serving to them determine when to cease questioning a witness.
He was admonished as soon as by the choose for nodding enthusiastically towards jurors throughout a profitable stretch of cross-examination by considered one of his legal professionals. Prosecutors complained that his gestures have been a type of testifying with out being topic to cross-examination. The choose warned that he might be excluded from his trial if it occurred once more.
Up to now week, prosecutors and defence legal professionals have proven jurors over 40 minutes of recordings Combs made from the “freak offs” or “resort nights.”
A number of jurors sometimes appeared squeamish as they seen and listened to audio of the encounters, however most didn’t appear to react.
In her opening assertion, Geragos had known as the movies “highly effective proof that the sexual conduct on this case was consensual and never primarily based on coercion”.
Closing arguments have been scheduled for Thursday.
