Reside Updates: Sean

The protection went by means of most of the allegations in opposition to Combs and informed jurors that witnesses could deceive corroborate the claims. 

Combs’ fee to the lodge safety guard was to forestall dangerous publicity for each he and Cassie, to not impede a regulation enforcement investigation, they stated. 

The protection stated there have been no kidnappings and Combs was not concerned within the alleged arson. They stated the worker allegedly kidnapped labored for Combs for over a decade and requested to work for him after her employment ended. 

“Was this particular person truly kidnapped? Hearken to her testimony,” Combs’ protection lawyer stated. 

The drug trafficking allegations are linked to private medicine for Combs and the ladies he was with, not an enterprise, the protection stated. 

The protection informed jurors they are going to hear from girls who “made free selections each single day for years” and have been “all getting one thing” from Combs.

They stated to observe intently the function jealousy performs within the trial, from the witnesses and Combs. 

Proof from over 20 years will present the identical girls remained in consensual relationships with Combs for years, and that breaches of belief and jealousy drove home violence, the protection stated. 

Additionally they stated jurors may even see issues that make them uncomfortable, like kinky intercourse. 

“You aren’t right here to evaluate [Combs] and his sexual preferences,” the protection stated. 

The protection informed jurors “Sean Combs has a foul mood,” that generally he will get so offended he is uncontrolled, and a few proof is not going to painting him in a great gentle. 

They stated jurors may suppose Combs is “a jerk” at instances, however that he is not charged with being imply or a jerk. 

The protection claimed any violence proven within the trial shouldn’t be related to any racketeering, intercourse trafficking or prostitution. 

“Home violence shouldn’t be intercourse trafficking,” they stated, including if Combs was charged with home violence or assault that they’d not be right here now.

The protection informed the jury that Combs “is a drug consumer” and “chances are you’ll know of his love of child oil,” however these usually are not federal crimes. 

Combs protection workforce opened saying the case shouldn’t be sophisticated and that it is about voluntary grownup selections in consensual relationships. 

“This case shouldn’t be about what you heard on the information,” they informed the jury. 

They stated their protection will inform the story of a person from Harlem who created a lawful enterprise from nothing and gave folks alternatives. 

“Persons are drawn to him,” they stated. 

On the racketeering  cost, they stated no witnesses will say they have been a part of a corrupt enterprise as a result of “there was not one.”

Prosecutors stated jurors will see movies of Combs’ so-called “freak-offs,” which he allegedly used to blackmail folks. They stated jurors will hear Combs directing folks and see them excessive on ecstasy pretending to get pleasure from themselves. 

Movies and photos present Combs beating a girl throughout a “freak-off,” prosecutors stated. Jurors will even see proof of accidents from an assault that occurred lower than one 12 months in the past, they stated. 

Prosecutors stated proof will even present jurors what was inside Combs’ houses after they have been searched, like weapons, a so-called “med bag” of medicine, lubricant and excessive heels. 

Prosecutors stated they are going to name two girls, together with Cassie, to explain Combs’ “freak-offs” in painstaking element. 

Jurors will hear from a few of Combs’ workers, together with a private assistant he allegedly pressured himself on sexually and others he ordered to purchase medicine. They are going to element how they have been anticipated to maintain quiet, the prosecution stated. 

Escorts will testify how Combs directed them to the touch one another and that he filmed sure acts, they stated. 

Prosecutors stated they are going to present how Combs’ inside circle labored on harm management, together with making an attempt to cease the discharge of the 2016 safety tape of Combs attacking Ventura at a Los Angeles lodge. 

They stated he tried to repay a lodge safety guard with a wad of money, then had one other safety guard dealer the deal. He gave the guard a brown paper bag containing $100,000 money in trade for the tape, they stated. 

Prosecutors stated jurors will see the signed settlement barring the lodge safety guard from talking after being paid. 

Prosecutors stated Combs used his energy to drive folks into having intercourse. They stated he threatened them, drugged them and used violence. 

Additionally they allege he transported girls throughout state traces and even in a foreign country for intercourse acts. 

“This case shouldn’t be a couple of superstar’s personal sexual preferences,” a prosecutor stated. 

Prosecutors stated proof will present Combs’ companies made him wealthy and highly effective by counting on an inside circle of bodyguards, chiefs of workers and different high-ranking workers, who labored to advertise his energy and thoroughly domesticate his popularity. 

They stated Combs anticipated his inside circle to cater to his needs, together with sexual ones. He used his assets to “sexually exploit” a number of girls, they stated, including there’s proof Combs had a person’s automotive set on hearth and dangled a girl over a balcony. 

Prosecutors stated Combs had not possible calls for. When workers failed to satisfy them, he threw issues at them, pressured them to take medicine and sexually assaulted one. 

Federal prosecutors have began laying out their case in opposition to Combs for the jury. 

“To the general public he was Puff Daddy or Diddy, a cultural icon, a businessman, bigger than life. However there was one other aspect to him,” a prosecutor stated. 

The prosecution stated Combs had an inside circle of physique guards and workers who helped cowl up crimes for 20 years. 

They stated Combs abused his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, for years and that “he beat her brutally,” “flinging her round like a rag doll,” after discovering out she was relationship one other man. 

The jury is sworn in and being given their directions. 

The 12 jury members and 6 alternates have been chosen and the jury is seated.

The group consists of 12 males and 6 girls. 

The choose enters the courtroom and the ultimate proceedings begin earlier than the jury is seated and sworn in.

Combs entered the courtroom at round 8:51 a.m. sporting a sweater (beige or gentle grey) over a collared shirt and what seems to be khaki pants. 

His mom and 6 youngsters have been seated within the second row behind the protection. He gave them a thumbs up, made a coronary heart form along with his palms and blew a kiss. The children smiled and pumped their fists. 

Combs placed on glasses and requested for extra water. 

Combs rejected a plea deal that was provided within the last pre-trial listening to, after he pleaded not responsible to all counts, together with transportation to interact in prostitution and intercourse trafficking. 

Throughout the pre-trial listening to on Might 1, Choose Arun Subramanian requested Combs to verify he was of sound thoughts and never on any medicine. He then requested Combs if he rejected the prosecution’s supply. 

“Sure, I do,” Combs stated. 

Particulars of what was provided within the potential plea deal weren’t given.

Opening statements within the Sean “Diddy” Combs federal intercourse trafficking and racketeering are anticipated to start out right now on the federal courthouse in Decrease Manhattan. 

First, the jury have to be sworn in. 

Trial proceedings are anticipated to go from 9 a.m. to five p.m. every day for the primary week, then 9 a.m. to three p.m. every day the next weeks. 

The trial is predicted to final eight to 10 weeks.

Per federal guidelines, images and movies from inside court docket usually are not allowed, so there is no such thing as a broadcast or livestream of Combs’ trial.

Solely courtroom sketches are permitted. 

CBS Information New York’s Alice Gainer will present real-time updates from the courthouse on this dwell weblog.