A star witness in the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial is reportedly MIA, throwing the disgraced Bad Boy mogul’s sex trafficking case into chaos,.
Opening statements are set to begin next week. But federal prosecutors have been left scrambling.
They can’t find one of the female victims who is central to their case. She does not live in New York where the Combs’ trial is being held.
The lead prosecutor, Maurene Comey, informed US District Judge Arun Subramanian on Wednesday that reaching ‘Victim 3’ and her lawyer has proven challenging.
Prosecutors had mentioned Victim 3 plans to disclose ‘very personal and explosive details’ concerning abuse she allegedly suffered under Combs.
Comey told the judge that even if they are able to reach the unnamed victim, she ‘may not show up.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs appeared in court this week and faced potential jurors as opening statements is expected to start on May 12
Combs’ former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, is expected to be one of the key witnesses and plans to use her own name when she takes the stand.
Defense lawyer Teny Geragos insisted that the prosecution decide by week’s end whether they still intend for Victim 3 to testify.
The prosecution’s acknowledgment of their difficulty in contacting a key witness was unexpected, especially after an April 29 memo indicated that Victim 3 was willing to testify without a pseudonym.
Prosecutors filed a third superseding indictment in April that added an additional charge of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution related to Victim 3.
Combs is facing a total of five counts, including racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution in connection to four alleged victims who were forced to participate in drug-fueled ‘freak offs’, prosecutors claim.
Combs is pictured in a n artist sketch as he watched potential jurors enter the courtroom on May 7
Combs’ legal team has said the addition of charges are nothing new.
‘These are not new allegations or new accusers,’ the defense attorneys said. ‘These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships. This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.’
Prosecutors this week tried to play down the bombshell news that one of their star witnesses possibly dropping from the case. Comey told the judge there are still ‘many, many acts of racketeering apart from Victim 3.’
While Victim 3’s identity remains unknown to the public, Geragos said in court the woman has been around Combs ‘for a long time.’
Combs has plead not guilty to all the charges. His defense team has said the alleged victims are ex-girlfriends who willingly participated in threesomes.
Prosecutors have said ‘Victim 1’, Cassie Ventura, plans to testify using her own name.
Before he was indicted on federal charges, Combs was regarded as a revered producer and businessman. He is pictured here in 2022 as he accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 BET Awards in June 2022
The judge had approved prosecutors’ request for Victims 2 and 4 to testify under pseudonyms.
Combs appeared in court this week as both sides questioned potential jurors. More than 600 potential jurors filled out questionnaires, which included questions about their feelings about domestic partner violence, their hobbies and the types of music and media they consume regularly.
A total of 45 have made it to the final stage of jury selection on Wednesday.
Both sides will come back on Friday where both sides will go over which individuals they want to strike off the jury list.
Combs, who has been sporting gray hair and beard, told the judge on Monday that he was ‘ a little nervous’ and asked Judge Arun Subramanian for a bathroom break.
In a shocking decision, Combs rejected a last-minute plea deal from prosecutors last week.
He faces life in prison if convicted on all charges.
