The date for Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sentencing listening to has been confirmed.
Defence legal professionals argued Combs, who has been in jail in Brooklyn since his arrest in September final yr, needs to be bailed forward of sentencing given the not responsible verdicts for the extra severe prices, however Choose Arun Subramanian denied this – citing, amongst different issues, the rapper’s personal admissions of earlier violent behaviour.
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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in court docket after the decision was delivered. Pic: Reuters/ Jane Rosenberg
The costs of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy carried a possible life sentence. Combs nonetheless faces as much as 20 years in jail for the prostitution-related offences, however will not be anticipated to obtain the utmost punishment.
After the decision was delivered, the decide scheduled the sentencing listening to for 3 October. At a distant follow-up convention on Tuesday, with settlement from the defence and prosecution, the decide authorized the date.
Combs joined the decision however didn’t make any remark.
Any sentence will embrace credit score for time already served – which might be simply over a yr by the point the listening to takes place.
Throughout his trial, Combs was accused by prosecutors of abusing and coercing three alleged victims, together with his former long-term associate, singer and mannequin Cassie Ventura.
Jurors discovered the allegations didn’t quantity to sex-trafficking or racketeering, or operating a legal enterprise – however they did discover him responsible of transporting Cassie and one other former girlfriend “Jane” for prostitution offences across the US, and paying male escorts to interact in sexual encounters.
Regardless of the responsible verdict on these prices, the 55-year-old’s crew described it as “the victory of all victories”.
In an interview over the weekend, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo stated Combs had acquired a standing ovation from fellow inmates when he returned to jail after being acquitted of the extra severe prices.
“They all said, ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government’,” he stated.
Forward of sentencing, Combs’s legal professionals will file their suggestions by 19 September, with prosecutors prone to observe per week later.
Prosecutors beforehand stated the rapper might face about 4 to 5 years in jail beneath federal sentencing pointers, whereas the defence has advised a two-year sentence.
