Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ workforce ends their defence after solely 20 minutes

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ authorized workforce rested their case in his intercourse trafficking trial on Tuesday after making arguments for less than about 20 minutes.

Their quick presentation adopted almost seven weeks of arguments and witness testimony introduced by federal prosecutors in New York. The prosecution completed making their case Tuesday afternoon.

His defence attorneys argued that the federal government has failed to fulfill the burden in proving any of the fees towards him, which he is vehemently denied, and the decide ought to drop the case towards him.

Mr Combs additionally confirmed to the court docket that he wouldn’t take the stand in his personal trial. “It is my determination with my attorneys” to not testify, he instructed the decide.

Mr Combs has pleaded not responsible to expenses of intercourse trafficking, racketeering and transportation to interact in prostitution. He faces as much as life in jail if convicted within the scheme.

Talking for the primary time in court docket in weeks on Tuesday, Mr Combs instructed Choose Arun Subramanian that he was “doing a superb job”.

“I need to inform you thanks,” the rapper instructed the decide.

Prosecutors have alleged Mr Combs used his celebratory standing and enterprise empire to run a felony enterprise to intercourse site visitors girls and conceal his crimes. Throughout their arguments, the federal government known as greater than 30 witnesses to the stand.

The defence known as none, as an alternative submitting into proof a number of textual content messages between Mr Combs and his ex-girlfriends, singer Casandra Ventura, and one other sufferer who testified underneath the pseudonym Jane.

It’s at all times tough for defence groups to determine whether or not to name any truth witnesses to the stand, mentioned Mitchell Epner, a New York-based lawyer and former prosecutor.

Calling new witnesses can introduce extra issues for the defence – and having Mr Combs take the stand would have been a fair riskier transfer, hanging the case totally on his testimony, Mr Epner mentioned.

As an alternative, Mr Combs’ attorneys gave a fast presentation, exhibiting messages in an try to bolster their argument that Mr Combs’ girlfriends have been prepared contributors in sexual encounters with him and male escorts, which have been known as freak-offs.

In a single textual content message to Mr Combs that his attorneys learn aloud, Jane instructed him “I at all times have enjoyable” throughout their freak-offs, or what she known as “resort nights”.

The fast defence case got here after Mr Combs’ authorized workforce filed a movement asking the court docket to acquit their shopper, claiming the federal government had not met their burden in proving any of the fees, together with intercourse trafficking and racketeering.

His lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argued that the victims within the case have been succesful girls who may have left on their very own accord, giving a touch of the factors the authorized workforce is prone to current throughout closing arguments scheduled later this week on Thursday and Friday.

Mr Combs was “regrettably violent, however home violence just isn’t intercourse trafficking”, Ms Shapiro mentioned.

Prosecutors have argued Mr Combs’ ex-girlfriends have been coerced into undesirable intercourse acts with medicine, violence and different means.