P Diddy trial could last for months as legal expert predicts timeline
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is currently languishing in a Brooklyn jail as he awaits trial on a series of charges - but how long is the trial expected to last?
The trial of P Diddy is underway, with its duration hinging on several factors. The embattled rap tycoon, born Sean Combs, is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, awaiting trial for charges including racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution.
P Diddy has staunchly refuted all allegations against him, entering a plea of not guilty in court. A legal expert has spoken out to gauge the potential length of the trial, which began yesterday. Given the case's complexity and the multitude of charges and accusations levelled against him, it could take weeks, if not months, to reach a verdict.
Jury selection is set to commence on May 5 in New York City, with a provisional start date of May 12 for the trial. Diddy was apprehended in September 2024 following raids on his Miami and Los Angeles residences by federal agents in March.
He first faced accusations of rape, sex trafficking, and physical abuse in a lawsuit lodged by ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2023, which was settled in court after just one day without any admission of guilt, reports the Mirror US.
She is expected to testify against him during the trial.
Cassie's initial lawsuit paved the way for other alleged victims to step forward, resulting in dozens of civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault filed against the founder of Bad Boy Records since then, in addition to his substantial RICO charge. He has denied all claims in the civil lawsuits.
Participation in an organised illegal scheme such as sex or drug trafficking is deemed racketeering under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Statute, or RICO. Diddy is facing RICO charges for "multiple acts of kidnapping," arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labour, sex trafficking, transportation for the purposes of prostitution and distribution of narcotics, according to indictment documents.
As for the duration of the trial, it could potentially extend over weeks, possibly even months. Criminal Defence Solicitor and legal expert Katie McCreath highlights that "this is a heavyweight federal prosecution - RICO, sex trafficking by coercion, and allegations spanning two decades," which may take longer to conclude.
"Prosecutors must prove a pattern of criminal conduct within an enterprise, likely relying on multiple victims, digital evidence, and financial trails," she elaborates. "Trials of this nature often run six to twelve weeks, sometimes longer."
In terms of high-profile cases that capture public interest, it's difficult to predict. For instance, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's trial lasted seven weeks, while OJ Simpson's murder trial extended over nine months.
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Young Thug's RICO case lasted two years, marking one of the longest trials in Georgia's history.
There are also several factors that could delay or prolong the trial.
For instance, in May 2024, CNN broadcasted surveillance footage from a hotel showing Diddy allegedly assaulting his former partner Cassie back in 2016. Diddy's legal team has since argued that the footage was manipulated by CNN, an accusation they have denied.
On Friday April 25, a judge ruled that the footage could be presented at trial.
His solicitors filed a motion to exclude, requesting the judge to bar prosecutors from summoning alleged victims, not named in the indictment, to testify, including those who allege they were sexually assaulted by Diddy but are not the alleged victims identified in the indictment.
Furthermore, the jury selection process could potentially be prolonged as many potential jurors might be considered biased based on their views on sex and their willingness to view videos containing sexually explicit content.
The trial was tentatively scheduled to commence on May 12, 2025.
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Proceedings at the federal court in Manhattan are due to start at around 2pm UK time. We are scheduled to hear more evidence today from a former partner of Combs, testifying under the pseudonym "Jane". It's her third day on the witness stand, as we begin week five of the trial. 22:31:00 What you need to know after day 18 of Diddy's trial - scroll down to catch up An anonymous former girlfriend and alleged victim of Sean "Diddy" Combs continued her evidence against the rapper on the 18th day of his sex-trafficking trial. If you're just checking in, here's a round-up of all the key updates: Jane began her evidence by telling jurors that Combs would become "incensed" if she asked for the "entertainer" to wear a condom, adding the rapper said he "didn't want to see a rubber while he was watching"; As she began to recall "hotel nights" she became emotional in court, saying she was given "multiple doses" of ecstasy to keep her awake with the longest session lasting around three days; She explained that she felt she had to take the drugs "because when I wouldn't it would just feel too real"; Recalling a sobriety party in Beverly Hills, she said she went to the bathroom after having sex with two men and threw up, but Combs told her "let's go, third guy is here"; Jane said Diddy would call an assistant or security when he ran out of drugs, and told the court she also picked up a "white envelope" of drugs and "put it in my luggage" for Combs; Explaining how "entertainers" were chosen, Jane said Combs chose who took part in the hotel nights at first, before she then started to pick them from late 2021 because she "didn't like to be surprised by a stranger"; But she recalled one occasion when she was "repulsed" by an entertainer who she described as being "really sweaty" and "smelled"; Jane said Combs filmed hotel nights "several times" and even directed what he wanted her to do - from putting baby oil on the man to touching herself; The rapper also asked her to get nipple piercings because "that's what he wanted from his girl" and paid for her veneers as "he didn't like my teeth"; In a voice note played out to jurors, Combs told Jane "I can do whatever the f*** I want" after she said she needed a "breather and a break" from him; Jane will return to the stand to continue her evidence on Monday. 21:59:59 Court finishes for the day It's just reaching 5pm in New York, and that's all we're going to hear from Jane today. She will return on Monday to continue giving evidence. We'll be back with a recap of today's hearing soon - in the meantime scroll through our posts to catch up on what was said in court. 21:57:58 'At any moment he could cut me off', Jane says after Diddy voice note left her 'cold' Jurors are played an audio message from Sean "Diddy" Combs to Jane after an argument between the pair in August 2023. "I'm not going to be playing these games with you at all, nah, you are going to have a rude awakening, you will have silence," he said. "You can be mad and have a spat, that's all it is, you got me on my job, it will never work like that over here, you need to get on your job... I am trying to be clear, I am going to disappear on you." When asked about what she thought Diddy meant by saying he was going to disappear on her, Jane says she was "pretty alarmed by that message". "I was just really cold and its true that at any moment he could just do that if he wanted to... cut me off." 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