Sean “Diddy” Combs has been discovered responsible of transportation for prostitution following a landmark trial in New York – however cleared of extra severe expenses of intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
The hip-hop mogul was accused by prosecutors of abusing and coercing three alleged victims, together with his former long-term companion, singer and mannequin Cassie Ventura, and different crimes together with kidnapping, arson and blackmail.
Jurors determined not all of the allegations have been confirmed – however Combs nonetheless faces a number of years in jail after being convicted of transporting individuals throughout the US, together with Cassie and one other former girlfriend “Jane”, and paying male escorts to have interaction in sexual encounters.
Nevertheless, with the not responsible verdict on three different extra severe expenses – racketeering conspiracy and two of intercourse trafficking – the 55-year-old has averted a most doable sentence of life behind bars.
Regardless of a request by his defence group, he was denied bail forward of sentencing – which has been scheduled for Friday 3 October.
Picture:
Combs appeared upbeat as the decision was introduced. Pic: Jane Rosenberg/ Reuters
Marc Agnifilo, a part of Diddy’s defence group, described the ruling as “a victory of all victories”.
Outdoors the courthouse, he mentioned the jury “got the situation right, or certainly right enough”.
One other of his attorneys, Nicole Westmoreland, mentioned: “He actually battled for his freedom, for his innocence, and he did it.
“And, you recognize, a whole lot of instances, individuals are too afraid to do it. Right this moment is a significant win to indicate what the system can do.”
The blended consequence from the jury got here not lengthy into their third day of deliberations. Within the courtroom in Manhattan, there have been cheers from Combs’s household – and the rapper himself held his arms up in a prayer movement, trying on the jury, and hugged his defence lawyer Teny Geragos.
His temper appeared very totally different to only a day earlier – when he discovered the jury had reached a verdict on 4 of the 5 expenses, however have been cut up on the racketeering cost.
After deliberating for longer on Wednesday, they got here to a unanimous determination.
As the decision sunk in, Combs appeared overwhelmed, kneeling at his chair and bowing his head in prayer as soon as once more.
“I’ll be home soon,” he mentioned as he confronted his members of the family. “I love you, Mum.”
Picture:
After the decision, Combs knelt at his chair and appeared to hope
The applying for bail
Combs’s defence group argued that as he had been cleared of essentially the most severe expenses, he ought to be bailed forward of sentencing.
His lawyer Marc Agnifilo mentioned he had been a mannequin prisoner and added: “He’s not going to flee. He’s been given his life back.”
However prosecutor Maurene Comey argued Combs had a historical past of violence, which Decide Arub Subramanian agreed with. “At trial, the defence conceded the defendant’s violence in his personal relationships,” he mentioned.
After being denied bail, Combs tried to get the choose’s consideration – however after consulting with Mr Agnifilo, he didn’t converse.
Picture:
Casandra ‘Cassie’ was closely pregnant when she gave proof at the beginning of the trial. Pic: Jane Rosenberg/ Reuters
Cassie ‘paved the best way’
Reacting to the decision, Cassie’s lawyer Douglas H Wigdor mentioned that though jurors didn’t discover Combs responsible of sex-trafficking Cassie, she had “paved the way” for the opposite responsible verdicts.
“By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice,” he mentioned.
“We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client, who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial.”
Cassie, who testified closely pregnant simply three weeks earlier than giving start, displayed “unquestionable strength”, he added, and “brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit”.
Movies of “freak off” intercourse classes with male escorts have been proven to jurors solely throughout the seven-week trial, with the footage stored personal from members of the general public and media in courtroom.
Picture:
Pic: Reuters/ Jane Rosenberg
Former staff, together with escorts, lodge employees and cops have been amongst these to present proof.
Cassie and Jane, who used a pseudonym, additionally testified. They instructed the courtroom they have been coerced into drug-fuelled “freak offs” – which have been additionally known as “hotel nights” or “wild king nights” – with male escorts, and abused all through their relationships.
Combs’s defence group offered a really totally different image to indicate that sexual acts, together with freak offs, have been consensual.
They conceded the music star could possibly be violent, had a nasty mood and used medicine. He additionally had a number of relationships on the similar time. However crucially, they mentioned, whereas he was “not proud” of a few of his behaviour, none of it made him responsible of the costs in opposition to him.
After listening to proof of flights and journey for escorts and Cassie and Jane, paid for by Combs, in addition to lodge bookings throughout the US and the Caribbean, jurors discovered him responsible of the transportation to have interaction in prostitution expenses. Nevertheless, they didn’t discover that the allegations in opposition to the rapper amounted to intercourse trafficking or racketeering.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
1:29
CCTV footage reveals Diddy ‘attacking’ Cassie in lodge
The Cassie lodge tape
Combs, identified variously as Puff Daddy, P Diddy, and Diddy over time, was as soon as one of the crucial influential figures in hip-hop – well-known as a producer, founding father of Unhealthy Boy Information and supervisor of the late Infamous BIG within the Nineteen Nineties, in addition to a rapper in his personal proper.
As an artist, he gained three Grammys throughout his profession, and had hits together with I will Be Lacking You, Come With Me, and Unhealthy Boy For Life.
In September 2023, he acquired the “global icon” award from MTV and was given the important thing to New York Metropolis at a ceremony in Occasions Sq., only a few miles away from the streets in Harlem the place he spent his first years.
Allegations first got here to prominence in November 2023, when Cassie filed a bombshell lawsuit accusing him of coercing her into undesirable intercourse classes, in addition to blackmail and several other incidences of violence.
The go well with was settled in 24 hours – for $20m, it emerged throughout the trial – however months later CNN aired lodge safety footage exhibiting Combs punching and kicking Cassie and throwing her to the ground in 2016.
He apologised after the video aired, saying: “I was disgusted when I did it.”
Footage from the lodge incident was proven throughout the trial.
