Closing arguments set to begin in Diddy's criminal trial
Share this @internewscast.com

Editor’s Note: This article includes discussions about rape or sexual assault that may be distressing. Reader caution is advised. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, resources and support can be found on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.

(NewsNation) — On Thursday, prosecutors will have their final opportunity to persuade a jury in their case against Sean “Diddy” Combs as the government presents closing arguments. 

The seven-week legal proceeding has culminated in its final days of the highly anticipated trial with the last of 34 witnesses taking the stand.

The government will be given four hours to make its closing statement, and after that, defense attorneys will make their final plea to jurors. 

The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Monday. 

Combs is facing a potential life sentence, having been charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

He has pleaded not guilty. 

The government’s case brought on several former employees of Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment companies, but its most noteworthy witnesses were two former partners, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and “Jane,” a social media influencer who testified under a pseudonym. 

Ventura, who was late term in her pregnancy at the time, testified over four days about the decade-long abuse she faced at Combs’ hands. She said she felt pressured to engage in hundreds of sexual events, dubbed “Freak Offs,” with sex workers. These encounters were often filmed, and Ventura said she was threatened by Combs, who used the videos as leverage over her. 

Jane testified for six days about sexual performances she called “hotel nights,” saying she felt coerced into engaging in them as recently as last August but did so because she loved and still loves Combs.

Ventura was in a relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018, while Jane was with him from 2021 until his arrest last year.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers played several minutes of recordings of the “freak offs” and “hotel nights.”

While the prosecution presented a robust case, defense attorneys wrapped up theirs within hours and with no witnesses. 

Much of their argument rested on the theory that all of the accusers were consenting adults and that no one was forced to participate in Combs’ sexual events. 

They relied largely on text messages between Combs and his ex-partners to show that the women were willing and even arranged for the sexual encounters at times. 

Prosecutors, however, portrayed a web of nefarious activity that occurred around Combs’ “Freak Offs” and relationships with women. 

Prosecutors on Tuesday said they removed some of the charges related to Combs’ indictment in order to focus the jury’s instructions for deliberation, court filings showed. Namely, they got rid of instructions from charges related to attempted kidnapping, aiding and abetting sex trafficking and attempted arson. 

“The Government is no longer planning to proceed on these theories of liability so instructions are no longer necessary,” prosecutors wrote in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday.

The arson charge stemmed from an incident to which Kid Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, testified as a witness. Mescudi said that in 2012, his Porsche 911 was firebombed in the driveway of his Hollywood Hills home. Combs had allegedly broken into Mescudi’s home weeks earlier after finding out about his relationship with Ventura. 

The jury also faced its share of drama when Subramanian excused a juror for not being truthful during the selection process about his place of residence. 

The juror had casually mentioned to a member of the court staff that he moved in with his girlfriend in New Jersey, which is out of the jurisdiction of the Southern District of New York. 

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Hot Takes: Dems Melt Down Over Kennedy Center Name Change - Ric Grenell Levels Them With Reality

Democrats React Strongly to Kennedy Center’s Name Change as Ric Grenell Weighs In

The Kennedy Center board recently made a significant decision to honor former…
AG Pam Bondi has 'conflict of interest' in seeking death penalty against Luigi Mangione, defense says

Conflict of Interest: AG Pam Bondi’s Controversial Pursuit of the Death Penalty in Luigi Mangione Case

NEW YORK — In a recent court submission, attorneys representing Luigi Mangione…
State Attorney's Office to seek death penalty for suspect in deadly Putnam County stabbing

Putnam County Stabbing Case: State Attorney Pursues Death Penalty for Suspect

The harrowing nature of a recent crime in Putnam County, Florida, has…
Congestion pricing = accessible transit

Revolutionizing Urban Mobility: How Congestion Pricing Fuels Enhanced Public Transit Accessibility

New York City’s public transit system is renowned for its ability to…
When does Girl Scout cookie season start?

Unlock the Sweetness: Your Ultimate Guide to Girl Scout Cookie Season 2024

The much-anticipated Girl Scout cookie season is just around the corner, bringing…
Ex-Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack arrested in Texas

Former Jaguars Linebacker Myles Jack Detained in Texas

Former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack faced arrest in Frisco, Texas, on…
NYCHA must be central to Mamdani housing plan

Transforming NYC Housing: Why NYCHA is Key to Mamdani’s Visionary Plan

For a glimpse into New York’s housing outlook, it’s crucial to consider…
Cruise ship chaos mounts as deaths, crimes on board shatter illusions of safety at sea, experts warn

Cruise Ship Concerns Escalate: Experts Highlight Rising Onboard Incidents and Safety Challenges

Cruise ships have long been a popular choice for American vacationers, offering…
Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente identified as Brown University and MIT shooting suspect, found dead

Brown and MIT Shootings Raise Concerns: Are Elite Universities Equipped to Handle Targeted Violence?

Two fatal shootings at prestigious U.S. universities, situated just 50 miles apart,…
Palmdale Street shooting on Jacksonville's Northwest side leaves man dead

Teen Among Five Injured in Arlington House Party Shooting Following Heated Argument

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An early morning house party in Jacksonville’s Arlington area…
Luigi Mangione lawyers renew bid to toss death penalty charge, alleging Pam Bondi has a conflict of interest

Luigi Mangione’s Legal Team Seeks Dismissal of Death Penalty, Citing Conflict of Interest with Pam Bondi

On Friday, attorneys representing Luigi Mangione intensified their efforts to dismiss the…
On Maduro’s ‘terror island,’ Hezbollah operatives move in as tourists drift out

Hezbollah Presence Grows on Venezuela’s ‘Terror Island’ as Tourism Declines Under Maduro’s Regime

From afar, Margarita Island appears to be the quintessential Caribbean paradise, with…