Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ attorneys level to Cassie’s loving texts in trial protection | Hollywood
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Combs mentioned to pressure girlfriends into sexual performances
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Protection known as “Freak Offs” consensual, cites accuser
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Closing arguments anticipated on Thursday
By Luc Cohen
NEW YORK, – Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorneys spent a half-hour on Tuesday placing on their protection case at their shopper’s intercourse trafficking trial, paving the best way for jurors to listen to remaining arguments earlier than weighing the hip-hop mogul’s destiny.
The protection included exhibiting jurors textual content messages wherein certainly one of Combs’ accusers, rhythm and blues singer Casandra Ventura, mentioned she beloved him and advised she loved taking part in sexual performances generally known as “Freak Offs.”
Federal prosecutors rested their case in opposition to Combs earlier within the day, after greater than six weeks of testimony.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to 5 counts of racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking and transportation to interact in prostitution. He determined to not testify.
Defendants in U.S. legal instances usually are not required to current proof, and judges instruct juries to not maintain a refusal to testify in opposition to defendants. To win a responsible verdict, prosecutors should show their instances past an inexpensive doubt.
The federal government’s case in opposition to Combs included accusations that the Dangerous Boy Information founder pressured two former girlfriends into sexual performances with male intercourse employees whereas he watched, masturbated and typically filmed.
Witnesses included the previous girlfriends Ventura, generally known as Cassie, and a lady recognized in courtroom by the pseudonym Jane.
Over a number of days of testimony, each mentioned Combs beat them, threatened to chop off monetary assist, and threatened to leak intercourse tapes.
Combs’ attorneys have acknowledged that their shopper was often violent in home relationships, however argued the “Freak Offs” had been consensual.
On Tuesday, protection lawyer Anna Estevao learn jurors a number of messages, starting from tender to sexually express, that Ventura despatched Combs throughout their decade-long relationship.
In a single message from 2012, Ventura wrote Combs, “Moreover making love, speaking to you is my favourite factor.”
5 years later, Ventura informed Combs in a sequence of messages that she missed him, requested him to ship an image of his genitals, and pledged to “be your little freak.”
Exterior the jury’s presence, Estevao informed the courtroom the messages confirmed Combs believed the “Freak Offs” had been consensual.
“That she’s telling Mr. Combs that she might be his little freak is probative as to his mind-set as as to if or not she was prepared to interact in this sort of sexual exercise,” Estevao mentioned.
One prosecution witness, forensic psychologist Daybreak Hughes, had informed jurors that victims of sexual violence usually develop “trauma bonds” with their companions, making it troublesome to go away abusive relationships.
U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian, who has overseen the trial in Manhattan federal courtroom, is anticipated on Wednesday to satisfy with attorneys to debate jury directions.
Closing arguments are anticipated to start on Thursday, and the jury could not start deliberating till late Friday or Monday.
If convicted on all 5 counts, Combs faces a compulsory 15-year jail sentence and will face life behind bars.
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