Diddy’s legal professionals gained’t name witnesses after prosecution rests case

Right now, federal prosecutors walked jurors via one other batch of textual content messages and different data in an try and illustrate Diddy’s relentless demand for drug-fueled “freak offs” — and the steps he allegedly took to orchestrate them. The prosecution group is anticipated to relaxation its case someday tomorrow.

The protection group, for its half, doesn’t plan to name any witnesses to the stand, in line with Diddy’s lead legal professional, Marc Agnifilo. Diddy’s legal professionals plan to current some proof, although. NBC Information authorized analyst Danny Cevallos has extra on that call under.

However first, right here’s what it’s good to find out about Day 28 of the trial:

• Joseph Cerciello, a particular agent with Homeland Safety Investigations, testified that Diddy seems to have paid for a intercourse employee named Cabral to remain on the Trump Worldwide Resort & Tower in New York Metropolis in September 2023 and take an Atlanta-to-Newark flight. The testimony doubtlessly underlines one of many U.S. authorities’s prices towards Diddy: transportation to interact in prostitution.
• The prosecution group confirmed jurors September 2023 textual content messages during which Diddy’s ex-girlfriend “Jane” lashed out at him, saying she refused to fulfill him in New York Metropolis. It’s “clear you simply need me there for a lodge binge,” Jane wrote partly. “I don’t need to be used and locked in a room to satisfy your fantasies,” she added. The federal government’s indictment alleges that Diddy coerced ladies to “fulfill his sexual needs.”
• In a separate textual content trade across the time Cassie Ventura filed her November 2023 lawsuit towards Diddy, Jane instructed the hip-hop mogul that she didn’t need to have intercourse with strangers on his command anymore. She instructed him she was “not a porn star,” in line with the textual content messages entered into proof. She added that she was “mentally and bodily drained” by the marathon sexual encounters.

🔎 The view from inside

By Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas, Katherine Koretski and Jing Feng

This morning, jurors placed on headsets to observe what gave the impression to be express movies of “freak offs” that includes Jane. Diddy, carrying a white sweater and glasses, seemed across the courtroom because the movies performed, seemingly avoiding wanting on the graphic recordings on the monitor in entrance of him. Diddy’s mom, Janice Combs, appeared to focus her gaze on the jury field.

👨‍⚖️ Evaluation: Why the protection is skipping witnesses

By Danny Cevallos

It’s no shock to me that Diddy’s group isn’t calling witnesses. Though the protection had indicated that it may name witnesses, equivalent to workers or its personal consultants, it was all the time extra doubtless that the protection would name nobody in any respect.

That’s to not say the protection engaged in any deception. By no means. Fairly, the federal government has the burden to show its case, and the protection has no burden. For that cause, the protection generally waits till it sees how the prosecution’s case goes earlier than making a closing choice on whom — if anybody — it’ll name. And since the federal government has the burden, it’s safer for the protection to name witnesses provided that it completely has to get one thing from that witness.

However there’s one other strategic benefit. If the protection doesn’t decide to who it’ll name, which means the federal government should put together cross-examination for everybody on the witness listing.

However there’s one witness the federal government knew the protection was by no means going to name: Diddy himself. Certain, he had a constitutional proper to testify, however he by no means was going to. There are simply no proper solutions for issues just like the video of him beating Ventura. He’s a greater witness by simply remaining silent.

🗓 What’s subsequent

Assistant U.S. Legal professional Maurene Comey instructed the courtroom that Cerciello will proceed testifying into Tuesday. If that plan holds, the federal government gained’t relaxation its case till noon tomorrow. We might get closing arguments as early as Thursday.

PSA: Each evening throughout Diddy’s trial, NBC’s “Dateline” will drop particular episodes of the “True Crime Weekly” podcast to get you on top of things. “Dateline” correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC Information’ Chloe Melas and particular company — proper in entrance of the courthouse. Pay attention right here.