Every part Diddy is being accused of as trial begins in the present day
Warning: this text discusses sexual assault and home abuse which some readers might discover distressing.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial is about to start in the present day (5 Might) within the state of New York, with the report government dealing with a number of costs that would land him behind bars for a big period of time.
It has been nearly eight months for the reason that music producer was arrested, however the Grammy winner is lastly set to face trial after being held on the Metropolitan Detention Middle in Brooklyn.
Diddy has been denied bail a number of instances whereas in jail, and even turned down an eleventh hour plea deal, having been requested by choose Arun Subramanian if he rejected prosecutors’ plea deal, Combs replied: “Sure, I do, your honour. Thanks.”
Statements from his lawyer have referred to as him an ‘harmless man’ as he plans to combat for his identify in court docket for what may very well be an eight to 10-week trial.
Diddy’s arrest and indictment
Combs was arrested on 16 September 2024 in a Manhattan lodge room following a grand jury indictment.
His lawyer claimed that the Dangerous Boy Data co-founder had cooperated and relocated to New York in anticipation of those costs, including: “These are the acts of an harmless man with nothing to cover, and he seems ahead to clearing his identify in court docket.”
Lawsuits have since been filed which allege quite a few incidents and felonies over a 25-year interval.
What has Diddy been charged with?
The 55-year-old has been hit with three costs by the Southern District of New York (SDNY) in a 14-page authorized indictment.
These are as follows:
- Racketeering conspiracy
- Intercourse trafficking by power, fraud, or coercion
- Transportation to have interaction in prostitution
They’re to do with intercourse trafficking, drug possession and firearms offences, with racketeering and intercourse trafficking carrying a most sentence of life in jail.
It’s additional said within the indictment that since 2008, Combs ‘abused, threatened, and coerced girls and others round him to fulfil his sexual needs, shield his repute, and conceal his conduct’.
The indictment additionally claims that he used his energy within the trade to create a ‘prison enterprise’ the place associates would have interaction in a number of different crimes, together with compelled labour and arson.
It additionally added that about 1,000 bottles of child oil and lubricant have been seized from Combs’ houses in Miami and Los Angeles after they have been raided by authorities, a part of the artist’s alleged ‘freak-off’ events.
A day after his arrest, Combs pleaded not responsible and was denied bail, whereas lawyer Marc Agnifilo stated: “Mr Combs is a fighter. He will combat this to the top. He is harmless.”
What has Diddy stated in response to the costs?
Following his arrest, Diddy’s legal professional instructed LADbible: “As Mr. Combs’ authorized staff has emphasised, he can not deal with each meritless allegation in what has change into a reckless media circus.
“That stated, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any declare that he sexually abused anybody, together with minors.
“He seems ahead to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court docket, the place the reality shall be established primarily based on proof, not hypothesis.”
The assertion got here after Houston legal professional Tony Buzbee alleged that extra lawsuits could be filed towards Diddy from round 120 ‘victims’.
Combs was even denied bail at $50 million (£37.8 million).
What else has Diddy been accused of in lawsuits?
Quite a few allegations have come out following his arrest, with a number of costs of rape and sexual assault being made towards Diddy.
Whereas it was claimed that his prison enterprise was disguised as a music empire, the music producer had additionally beforehand been sued by former accomplice Cassandra Ventura, higher often known as Cassie.
She’s set to be a witness within the court docket case, however the singer had accused Diddy of rape and a decade of bodily and emotional abuse, again in 2023.
The case could be settled the next day, earlier than damning footage of Diddy dragging her by her hair was captured by CCTV in a California lodge.
Diddy’s staff tried to exclude the footage from the trial, however the court docket dominated it as admissible.
How lengthy may Diddy spend in jail?
Combs is taking a look at life imprisonment if he is discovered responsible of the three felony costs.
Racketeer conspiracy, which could be described as criminal activity for revenue that’s disguised as enterprise dealings, can land you a most sentence of life in jail.
Intercourse trafficking by power, fraud, or coercion additionally has a most sentence of life in jail, in addition to a compulsory minimal of 15 years.
Thirdly, transportation for functions of prostitution carries a most sentence of 10 years, so the music producer may very well be taking a look at quite a few life sentences.
Will Diddy’s trial be televised?
Diddy’s trial is not going to be televised as he’s dealing with federal prison costs, which implies that the presence of ‘digital media’ is banned within the court docket room, as set out by a 1946 legislation.
Underneath Federal Rule of Felony Process 53, images and broadcasting from the courtroom is prohibited in a federal prison trial.
Federal civil proceedings have extra versatile guidelines, which you’ll have seen up to now, as they’re on the discretion of the choose.
A jury of 12 individuals is about to be determined in the present day, whereas opening statements are anticipated on 12 Might.
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