NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors are set to begin deliberating Monday in Sean “Diddy” Combs ’ intercourse trafficking case, weighing prices that would put the hip-hop mogul in jail for all times.
After receiving authorized directions from federal Choose Arun Subramanian, the jury of eight males and 4 girls will head behind closed doorways to deliberate. They will sift via seven weeks of generally graphic and emotional testimony concerning the rap, trend 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 strains.
In closing arguments final week, federal prosecutors and Combs’ protection group took their final photographs 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. Lawyer 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 among Combs’ accusers within the prison case additionally sued him in civil court docket.
In all, 34 witnesses testified, headlined by Combs’ former girlfriends Cassie — the R&B singer born Casandra Ventura — and “ Jane,” who testified beneath a pseudonym. Each girls mentioned he typically was violent towards them and compelled them into lots of 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 attorneys didn’t name any witnesses of their protection case. His attorneys elected as an alternative to problem the accusers’ credibility throughout prolonged cross-examination questioning.
The protection has acknowledged that Combs veered into violence, however his attorneys preserve that the intercourse acts had been consensual. They contend that prosecutors are intruding in Combs’ private life and that he’s completed nothing to warrant the fees in opposition to him.
