Sean 'Diddy' Combs declines to testify in trafficking case
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' high-profile sex-trafficking trial in New York has reached a critical juncture. Both the prosecution and defence rested their cases on Tuesday, 24 June, after more than six weeks of intense testimony.
The 55-year-old hip-hop mogul faces charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution.
He pleaded not guilty to all allegations and remains in jail without bail since his arrest in September last year.
The prosecution called 34 witnesses over 28 days, including Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and former employees of his company, Bad Boy Entertainment.
Male escorts, law enforcement officers, and hotel staff were also called to witness, according to Sky News.
They presented evidence depicting Combs as the orchestrator of drug-fuelled, coercive sexual marathons known as 'freak offs' or 'hotel nights.'
Prosecutors showed jurors explicit video footage of these sessions and submitted extensive records. These included hotel bills and travel itineraries to demonstrate the organisation of these events.
Cassie Ventura testified that she felt pressured to participate in hundreds of these 'freak offs,' describing them as 'like a job' that left her little time for her career.
Another former girlfriend, known as Jane, also testified to feeling coerced into similar encounters out of love for Diddy.
A third alleged victim, Mia, a former employee, accused Combs of sexual assault during her time working for him.
Combs chose not to testify in his defence. He told Judge Arun Subramanian that he had discussed the matter thoroughly with his lawyers and decided against taking the stand.
He also thanked the judge, saying, 'I want to tell you thank you. You're doing an excellent job'.
The defence rested after a brief presentation lasting less than an hour.
They submitted text messages between Combs and his former partners to argue that the relationships and sexual encounters were consensual.
They conceded Combs' past violence but insisted this did not equate to sex trafficking.
Defence lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argued that the prosecution had failed to meet the burden of proof for any charges and urged the judge to dismiss the case. They stated that 'Domestic violence is not sex trafficking'.
The trial has been marked by emotional testimony and procedural developments.
This includes the dismissal of a juror for providing conflicting information about his residence and a warning to Combs for inappropriate behaviour in court.
Closing arguments are expected to begin on Thursday, after which the jury will deliberate on Diddy's fate. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence.
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