Latest news with #TheTrialofDiddy
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The explosive takeaways from day one of Diddy jury selection as blockbuster trial begins
The first day of jury selection in the long awaited trial of Sean ' Diddy ' Combs did not disappoint - and has set the scene for a blockbuster of a court case. In Monday's episode of Daily Mail's The Trial of Diddy podcast, we break down all the highlights from Manhattan federal court. The celebrity names that could come up included actors Mike Myers, Michael B. Jordan and Lauren London. Some other famous names in the music industry were also revealed, including Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, producer Dallas Austin and choreographer Laurieann Gibson. While not all celebrities who were named on the list will be called to testify, jurors were asked if they knew or had any connections to the potential star-studded line up. 'I think it's going to be a long, slow process this week, but remember all of the jurors already know what case they are here for because they have already filled out the written questionnaires,' said Renato Stabile, jury selection specialist and managing director at New York-based Dubin Research & Consulting. 'That is unusual. Everyone has had plenty of time to think about whether or not they want to be on this jury. The Trial of Diddy: The No.1 True Crime podcast is back, covering all of the most shocking details from the Diddy case. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts 'If they don't want to be here, they will walk in with excuses already formulated. If they do want to be here, they will be sure to tell the court that they can be fair and impartial.' In a prior Trial of Diddy episode, Stabile also discussed how jury consultants such as himself are hired to identify 'stealth jurors' — individuals who purposely try to get on a jury for other purposes, such as writing a book once the trial ends. Combs' attorneys also added a 'secret weapon' to the defense team — famed jury consultant Linda Moreno, confirmed exclusively. Moreno is best known for consulting on high-profile terrorism cases, including the 2005 trial of Sami Al-Arian, a Florida college professor indicted on charges under the Patriot Act. Moreno was instrumental in picking the jury that ended up acquitting Al-Arian on 8 counts and deadlocking on the remaining 9 counts. Moreno's skills at dissecting jurors' backgrounds could be an essential key for picking a jury. On Monday, US District Court Arun Judge Subramanian also announced jurors will not be sequestered during this 10-week trial. Stabile told he is not surprised at that decision. 'Sequestration is really reserved where there a credible threats of violence, or jury tampering. 'This happened years ago with the OJ Simpson trial. Sequestration is very usually because given the jury is already going to be anonymous, the court fells that is sufficient protection. He added, 'You also have to keep in mind that if you tell jurors that you will be sequestered for 10 weeks, most people will want to drop out. People have lives and it's an incredible burden to sequester a jury.' Combs also made an appearance, but not dressed in the usual jail garb. On Monday, he was dressed in a 'preppy look' with gray pants, a navy crewneck and a sweater over his crisp white shirt. While Combs is facing potential jurors, his peers in the music and entertainment world are across town preparing for the annual Met Gala ball — an event the Bad Boy mogul attended regularly in prior years with former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. 'I guarantee you that if Diddy wasn't in court right now behind bars, he would be one of the co-chairs of the MET Gala,' said Trial of Diddy co-host Kayla Brantley. 'You have Louis Hamilton, you have LeBron James. Lots of successful Black men because the theme this year is 'tailoring black style, the black dandy style.' So this really would be Diddy's time to shine.' Ventura, who is one of the alleged victims in the criminal complaint, is expected to be one of the prosecution's key witnesses in the trial.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Sean 'Diddy' Combs childhood traumas revealed by longtime friend as disgraced mogul's sex trafficking trial looms
Nestled in the sprawling suburbia of New York, a home with well-kept hedgerows and blooming spring flowers is the quintessential model of an American residence. But this mid-century split-level home in Mount Vernon holds dark secrets that could explain the lead-up to the gut-churning accusations that disgraced rap mogul Sean ' Diddy ' Combs faces as he waits behind bars for his sex trafficking trial to kick off on Monday. This is Diddy's childhood home, where neighbors told that they witnessed 'wild' parties there thrown by his mother, Janice Combs, that could have been the inspiration for his later life of debauchery. Janice, 84, reportedly invited shady figures from her Harlem days, exposing her young son to nudity and drug use in the home. She did not respond to request for comment, but her son's attorney told Newsweek in January the motivations and credibility of people talking now 'must be questioned'. 'Many claim to have knowledge but lack any connection to the truth, while their wild, unfounded theories are cut and sensationalized to appear factual,' the attorney said. And on the latest episode of The Trial of Diddy, Tim Patterson, Diddy's childhood friend said the rapper's unstable upbringing and access to money at a young age was a recipe for trouble. 'I do not want to condone, and I don't condone any of the things that he's been accused of. 'But Sean is special to me, you know? We were big brother, little brother type of moves, and there's no way I can sit back and allow this to happen without giving context to his life and to his story and giving some type of understanding that he was not born a monster.' In the Peacock documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, Patterson further elaborated on how Sean's deranged partying habits were somewhat inherited: 'Because Sean had no dad, all he had was his mom. Sean's house, our house, there was always things going on. 'On the weekend, and we did that a lot. 'He was around all type of alcohol, he was around reefer smoke. He was around drug addicts, around lesbians, around homosexuals, he was around pimps and pushers. That was just who was in our house.' Listen to the full interview on the latest episode of The Trial of Diddy: Patterson said Diddy, 55, was not like other children who grew up in the suburbs of Mount Vernon in the 1960s and 70s. His mother, Janice, moved the family from Harlem to the town shortly after Diddy's father, Melvin, was killed. Melvin, who was an associate of notorious convicted drug dealer Frank Lucas, was shot dead while sitting in his car in New York City at the age of 33. Diddy spoke of his loss and called his father a 'hustler' in a 2013 interview on his former network Revolt. 'They say you can't miss something you never had, but that's only a little ways right. There has definitely been times as I've gotten older that I've missed my father – his presence – not being here...,' he said. 'There are things that you would ask your father. There's also things that you would celebrate with him that would make him proud.' The move to Mount Vernon marked a dramatic contrast for Diddy, who attended Mount Saint Michael Academy, an all-boys Catholic school. But his mother was allegedly unable to completely leave the streets behind and she reportedly invited her friends from Harlem to come visit. One neighbor told The Trial of Diddy podcast: 'It was a long time ago but I remember there were a lot of cars on the street and people coming and going and music until late. I never went but I heard they were wild parties.' Another neighbor expressed his shock at how somebody on their quiet street had become such an alleged monster, saying: 'Diddy really messed up. I can't believe how he turned out.' Patterson, who claimed he moved into Diddy's basement as a kid in an interview for the HBO Max The Fall of Diddy documentary, said the rap mogul allegedly was subjected to regular bullying and beatings from his peers, while also allegedly enduring harsh discipline at home. 'Just to give you an example, Sean was in a quagmire because of him getting picked on,' Patterson said. 'It wasn't the way it worked in his house. You don't come back as a loser. You have to come back and win. 'If someone takes something from you, you go get it back, or you have to deal with the consequences. So, Sean had to step up to the bullies. Sooner or later, and this was more in his adolescent years, but it got to a point where it just became too much for him.' Patterson refused to comment further on the allegations but told The Trial of Diddy podcast that the missing paternal influence in Combs' young life could've been detrimental for an impressional boy. Patterson declined to delve into Diddy's allegations but said not having a father was a recipe for disaster and that Janice allegedly had a lot of influence on him growing up 'My dad instilled some things in me that let me know there's only but so far people can go with you – win, lose, or draw,' Patterson said. 'And these might've been some of the things Sean could've gotten as a child had he had a father, right? 'In my home, there were boots and there were high-heeled shoes in the closet. In Sean's home, there were high-heeled shoes. There were no boots. So that makes sense. There was something missing from his maturing.' Diddy, 55, is scheduled to begin trial with opening statements on May 12, following jury selection, which will start on May 5. He was indicted on racketeering conspiracy, two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors allege Combs drugged and coerced women into sexual activities with male prostitutes. Investigators said they found drugs and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil that were intended to be used for orgies known as 'freak offs'. Sean Combs performs at the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour at ORACLE Arena on September 30, 2016 in Oakland, California Combs pleaded not guilty and has vehemently denied all the allegations, and his lawyers intend to discuss the rapper's 'swinger lifestyle' and claims the threesomes were consensual. The allegations were a shock to childhood friend Patterson, who claims Combs never showed him 'that side'. Patterson said Combs, who is three years younger, was destined to become a star. Patterson points to a picture of the two in front of Combs' childhood home in Mount Vernon. Both were smiling and posing in their bellbottom pants, but the young Combs was decked out with jewelry, a stylish bucket hat and fancier clothing. Patterson said Combs' sense of style, talent for dancing and knack for entertaining was influenced by the burgeoning movement of hip-hop. 'As he got older and as I got older, you couldn't help but not be around hip-hop because it was a culture. It was a lifestyle. It was a certain type of sneaker, was certain type of pants, it was a certain type of hat. The Trial of Diddy: The No.1 True Crime podcast is back, covering all of the most shocking details from the Diddy case. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts 'It was a certain way to talk. It was a certain way to walk. And Sean being from Harlem, he had all of this in him. He had all this flavoring.' By the time he was 17, Combs landed an internship at Uptown Records and quickly rose the ranks as the label's A&R director and was responsible for finding, signing, and developing musical talent. As he started his trajectory to success, Combs brought on his 'big brother' Patterson to Uptown as his intern. Combs's angry outbursts and cursing out subordinates became legendary, but higher-ups turned a blind eye because of the talent and money he brought to the label, Patterson said. 'He's 17, but he's got carte blanche access to the music industry,' Patterson said. 'Every day was a mess. He was a mess. 'You think he had decorum? You think he had it together? He's 17. He never got it together at 25. Shawn was just like he told you. He was the little bad boy every day.' The outbursts and outrageous spending finally came to a head when Combs was fired at Uptown, Patterson said. But when Combs was quickly picked up and brokered a deal with Clive Davis's Arista Records in 1993, he was able to create Bad Boy Records. As he gained more success, Combs became untouchable as his behavior and take-no-prisoners attitude became both feared and celebrated, his childhood friend said. Combs was eventually celebrated in the upper echelon of society and partied with celebrated designers like Tommy Hilfiger and other A-Listers such as Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump, Patterson said. 'That type of behavior doesn't stick today,' Pattersons said. 'But back then, there were no examples, no blueprints, no references of Puffy's. He was the first 17-year-old kid hanging with Russell Simmons, Andre Harrell, Brett Ratner, Clive Davis. 'He was the exception because there was no reference to him. He was so interesting to the Hilfigers. He was so interesting to the Trumps. He was so interesting to the Winfreys - that this kid's got a magnetism about him and he's the one behind these people.' Patterson said 30 decades of money, power and thinking he is invincible has caught up to Diddy. However, the former producer is certain Combs will not back down. 'I'm sure he's given every thought to everything, but Sean is the type who really believes he's innocent,' Patterson said. 'He doesn't feel the things that he's accused of is what he's done. He doesn't feel that. I know him.' Patterson declined to comment about the parties when contacted by and nobody answered at the door of the property. Diddy's lawyers and his office did not respond to a request for comment.
Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers seek impartial jurors amid intense media coverage
NEW YORK - For the past year-and-a-half, allegations of sexual misconduct against rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs have attracted widespread media attention, including several documentaries and podcasts, sullying the reputation of the mogul once known for his rags-to-riches life story and for elevating hip-hop in American culture. On Monday, with his criminal trial on sex trafficking charges just weeks away, Combs' lawyers will start their search for jurors who have not yet made up their minds about the artist and entrepreneur once known as "Puff Daddy." Hundreds of New York residents who have been summoned for jury duty will arrive at the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan this week to fill out questionnaires asking them what they already know about the case. It is the first step toward seating a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates that will determine Combs' fate after a trial expected to last eight to 10 weeks. While the judge and lawyers for both sides will know the jurors' names, their identities will not be disclosed to the public. Anonymous juries are not the default in the U.S. criminal justice system, but they are frequently used in high-profile trials to protect jurors from potential harassment or threats. Combs is accused of forcing women to take part in elaborate sex performances with male sex workers called "freak-offs" over two decades. He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have argued that the sex acts prosecutors described were consensual. Combs has been in the public eye for decades and is known for founding Bad Boy Records, turning musical artists such as Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars, and living a lavish lifestyle befitting a celebrity whose net worth Forbes estimated at more than $1 billion in 2022. His downfall since he was indicted last September has been widely documented, including in several documentaries and podcasts such as the Max miniseries "The Fall of Diddy" and the Daily Mail's podcast "The Trial of Diddy." The media saturation could leave many prospective jurors with the impression that he is likely guilty, said Christina Marinakis, a jury consultant. "As a defense side, you're really wanting to get jurors that have not heard anything about this case or know very, very little about it, so they come in with a truly blank slate," said Marinakis, the CEO of Immersion Legal Jury. VOIR DIRE After prospective jurors fill out questionnaires, defense lawyers and prosecutors will submit a list to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian of those the two sides agree should move forward in the selection process, as well as who should be excused and those about whom they cannot agree. The judge may hold a hearing to resolve any disputes. Starting May 5, Subramanian will question the remaining prospective jurors in person, a process known as voir dire designed to elicit signs of potential bias. Subramanian will dismiss those he finds would not be able to be fair and impartial. The prosecution and the defense will then be able to dismiss a limited number of jurors without articulating a reason, known as peremptory strikes. The process is not foolproof. British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell unsuccessfully sought to have her sex trafficking conviction overturned after a juror who had checked "no" when asked in a pretrial questionnaire whether he had been a victim of sexual abuse, said in media interviews after the trial that he had been sexually abused as a child. Both the defense lawyers and the prosecutors are likely to review prospective jurors' social media accounts to see if they have expressed opinions about the case or on other matters that could indicate bias, Marinakis said. Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, a New York-based defense lawyer, said Combs' panel would likely consist ultimately of people without firm convictions about issues of consent and sexual abuse. "One side or the other will figure out a way to get rid of the ones who do have strong opinions," Margulis-Ohnuma said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Malay Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' lawyers seek unbiased jurors amid media frenzy before trial
NEW YORK, April 28 — For the past year-and-a-half, allegations of sexual misconduct against rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs have attracted widespread media attention, including several documentaries and podcasts, sullying the reputation of the mogul once known for his rags-to-riches life story and for elevating hip-hop in American culture. On Monday, with his criminal trial on sex trafficking charges just weeks away, Combs' lawyers will start their search for jurors who have not yet made up their minds about the artist and entrepreneur once known as 'Puff Daddy.' Hundreds of New York residents who have been summoned for jury duty will arrive at the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan this week to fill out questionnaires asking them what they already know about the case. It is the first step toward seating a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates that will determine Combs' fate after a trial expected to last eight to 10 weeks. While the judge and lawyers for both sides will know the jurors' names, their identities will not be disclosed to the public. Anonymous juries are not the default in the US criminal justice system, but they are frequently used in high-profile trials to protect jurors from potential harassment or threats. Combs is accused of forcing women to take part in elaborate sex performances with male sex workers called 'freak-offs' over two decades. He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have argued that the sex acts prosecutors described were consensual. Combs has been in the public eye for decades and is known for founding Bad Boy Records, turning musical artists such as Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars, and living a lavish lifestyle befitting a celebrity whose net worth Forbes estimated at more than US$1 billion in 2022. His downfall since he was indicted last September has been widely documented, including in several documentaries and podcasts such as the Max miniseries The Fall of Diddy and the Daily Mail's podcast The Trial of Diddy. The media saturation could leave many prospective jurors with the impression that he is likely guilty, said Christina Marinakis, a jury consultant. 'As a defence side, you're really wanting to get jurors that have not heard anything about this case or know very, very little about it, so they come in with a truly blank slate,' said Marinakis, the CEO of Immersion Legal Jury. Voir dire After prospective jurors fill out questionnaires, defence lawyers and prosecutors will submit a list to US District Judge Arun Subramanian of those the two sides agree should move forward in the selection process, as well as who should be excused and those about whom they cannot agree. The judge may hold a hearing to resolve any disputes. Starting May 5, Subramanian will question the remaining prospective jurors in person, a process known as voir dire designed to elicit signs of potential bias. Subramanian will dismiss those he finds would not be able to be fair and impartial. The prosecution and the defense will then be able to dismiss a limited number of jurors without articulating a reason, known as peremptory strikes. The process is not foolproof. British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell unsuccessfully sought to have her sex trafficking conviction overturned after a juror who had checked 'no' when asked in a pretrial questionnaire whether he had been a victim of sexual abuse, said in media interviews after the trial that he had been sexually abused as a child. Both the defence lawyers and the prosecutors are likely to review prospective jurors' social media accounts to see if they have expressed opinions about the case or on other matters that could indicate bias, Marinakis said. Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, a New York-based defence lawyer, said Combs' panel would likely consist ultimately of people without firm convictions about issues of consent and sexual abuse. 'One side or the other will figure out a way to get rid of the ones who do have strong opinions,' Margulis-Ohnuma said. — Reuters
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers seek impartial jurors amid intense media coverage
By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -For the past year-and-a-half, allegations of sexual misconduct against rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs have attracted widespread media attention, including several documentaries and podcasts, sullying the reputation of the mogul once known for his rags-to-riches life story and for elevating hip-hop in American culture. On Monday, with his criminal trial on sex trafficking charges just weeks away, Combs' lawyers will start their search for jurors who have not yet made up their minds about the artist and entrepreneur once known as "Puff Daddy." Hundreds of New York residents who have been summoned for jury duty will arrive at the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan this week to fill out questionnaires asking them what they already know about the case. It is the first step toward seating a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates that will determine Combs' fate after a trial expected to last eight to 10 weeks. While the judge and lawyers for both sides will know the jurors' names, their identities will not be disclosed to the public. Anonymous juries are not the default in the U.S. criminal justice system, but they are frequently used in high-profile trials to protect jurors from potential harassment or threats. Combs is accused of forcing women to take part in elaborate sex performances with male sex workers called "freak-offs" over two decades. He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have argued that the sex acts prosecutors described were consensual. Combs has been in the public eye for decades and is known for founding Bad Boy Records, turning musical artists such as Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars, and living a lavish lifestyle befitting a celebrity whose net worth Forbes estimated at more than $1 billion in 2022. His downfall since he was indicted last September has been widely documented, including in several documentaries and podcasts such as the Max miniseries "The Fall of Diddy" and the Daily Mail's podcast "The Trial of Diddy." The media saturation could leave many prospective jurors with the impression that he is likely guilty, said Christina Marinakis, a jury consultant. "As a defense side, you're really wanting to get jurors that have not heard anything about this case or know very, very little about it, so they come in with a truly blank slate," said Marinakis, the CEO of Immersion Legal Jury. VOIR DIRE After prospective jurors fill out questionnaires, defense lawyers and prosecutors will submit a list to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian of those the two sides agree should move forward in the selection process, as well as who should be excused and those about whom they cannot agree. The judge may hold a hearing to resolve any disputes. Starting May 5, Subramanian will question the remaining prospective jurors in person, a process known as voir dire designed to elicit signs of potential bias. Subramanian will dismiss those he finds would not be able to be fair and impartial. The prosecution and the defense will then be able to dismiss a limited number of jurors without articulating a reason, known as peremptory strikes. The process is not foolproof. British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell unsuccessfully sought to have her sex trafficking conviction overturned after a juror who had checked "no" when asked in a pretrial questionnaire whether he had been a victim of sexual abuse, said in media interviews after the trial that he had been sexually abused as a child. Both the defense lawyers and the prosecutors are likely to review prospective jurors' social media accounts to see if they have expressed opinions about the case or on other matters that could indicate bias, Marinakis said. Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, a New York-based defense lawyer, said Combs' panel would likely consist ultimately of people without firm convictions about issues of consent and sexual abuse. "One side or the other will figure out a way to get rid of the ones who do have strong opinions," Margulis-Ohnuma said.
