&w=3840&q=100)
Final verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs expected soon, rapper faces charges of conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud
The prosecution has submitted their final arguments and rested their case and final verdict is expected soon. The rapper is facing charges like conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud. read more
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was once a dazzling rapper that enthralled the crowd with his songs. He's now a disgraced name after multiple shocking allegations and accusations. His trial has shocked the world.
The prosecution has submitted their final arguments and rested their case and final verdict is expected soon. The rapper is facing charges like conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud.
Cassie , the R&B singer and former girlfriend of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, testified in May that the mercurial music mogul — powerful, abusive and controlling — beat her mercilessly and ordered her to have 'disgusting' sex with strangers during drug-fueled, multi-day marathons he called 'freak offs.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, sniffled and dabbed her eyes with a tissue, sighed heavily and paused to compose herself through about five hours of testimony at Combs' sex trafficking trial.
In humiliating detail, she recounted a turbulent 10-year relationship with Combs that she said was consumed by violence and his obsession with a form of voyeurism where 'he was controlling the whole situation.' That included directing her encounters with male sex workers right down to the copious amounts of baby oil she applied to maintain the 'glistening' look he desired.
The 'Me & U' singer told jurors that his demands for her to engage in sometimes-revolting sex acts — sometimes as he watched from another room via FaceTime — left her feeling 'heavily objectified.' But, she said, she endured them because she was in love with Combs.
At the same time, Cassie said, Combs controlled every aspect of her life, from her career to her living arrangements, and she didn't feel like she could tell him 'no.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Son, Kanye West Call For His Freedom In New Song Amid Sex-Trafficking Trial
Rapper Kanye West has teamed up with Christian 'King' Combs, son of music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, for a newly released song titled ' Diddy Free '. The track, part of a surprise joint extended play (EP) ' Never Stop ', arrived on streaming platforms on Friday and directly references the ongoing sex-trafficking trial against Diddy. The chorus of the track repeatedly chants: " N**** ain't goin' to sleep 'till we see Diddy free," showing support for the embattled hip-hop executive. King Christian Combs, 27, contributes a verse that declares: "They be takin' shots, they can't trigger me, nah (S*** don't trigger me) / F*** the world, critics and the witness / Face clean, they tryna dirt the image / Sittin' n**** down that stood on business (You can't stop us though)." The release comes as Diddy's federal sex-trafficking case enters its final phase. Closing arguments were delivered Thursday, with the defence and prosecution wrapping up their presentations. Jurors are scheduled to begin deliberations on Monday. Diddy, 55, faces a series of serious allegations including trafficking women across state lines, coercing them into sexual acts, and collaborating with what prosecutors have described as a "criminal enterprise." Combs has denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. Back in February, Kanye West publicly called on US President Donald Trump to release Diddy Combs, who was then in federal custody. On X, West wrote, "@realDonaldTrump PLEASE FREE MY BROTHER PUFF," and shared a screenshot of a FaceTime call with Diddy's son, Christian. Throughout Diddy's seven-week trial, the jury has heard from 34 prosecution witnesses, including former romantic partners, assistants, and employees. Several recounted instances of violence, manipulation, and sexual abuse, while others described being forced to assist with alleged illegal activities. The courtroom also saw graphic video evidence and readouts from text messages and social media posts. Two ex-girlfriends, identified in court as Cassie Ventura and "Jane," testified that Combs forced them into sex with strangers during drug-fuelled encounters he orchestrated. Diddy Combs ' legal team, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, spent just over 30 minutes presenting the defence's case, following weeks of prosecution testimony. Agnifilo called the proceedings a "trial of lifestyle," claiming that prosecutors "exaggerated" their claims and argued that Cassie Ventura was a "gangster" who manipulated Combs. He acknowledged the artist had assaulted Ventura during their long-term relationship but claimed that much of the case had been sensationalised. Kanye West made a surprise 40-minute appearance at the courthouse. Upon his arrival, Christian King Combs greeted and accompanied him inside. Speaking to the Associated Press, the younger Combs said his presence was in support of his father. Sean 'Diddy' Combs could face life imprisonment if convicted. A verdict date has not been set yet.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
9 hours ago
- First Post
Jury set to begin deliberating in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial
The answer will determine the future of one of the biggest music moguls and cultural figures of the past four decades. If convicted, Combs, 55, would face 15 years to life in prison. read more For seven weeks, a jury in Manhattan has listened as prosecutors laid out a criminal sex trafficking and racketeering case against rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs. They heard his ex-girlfriends and other witnesses deliver shocking accounts of violence and drug-fueled sexual marathons. On Monday, jurors are set to begin deliberating, ultimately deciding whether Combs was running a criminal enterprise, as the government says, or — as his lawyer insists — merely living a swinger lifestyle that included recreational drug use and, regrettably, domestic violence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The answer will determine the future of one of the biggest music moguls and cultural figures of the past four decades. If convicted, Combs, 55, would face 15 years to life in prison. Here's what to know about the case: What are the charges? The three-time Grammy Award winner has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors say Combs coerced women into abusive sex parties involving hired male sex workers, ensured their compliance with drugs like cocaine and threats to their careers, and silenced victims through blackmail and violence that included kidnapping, arson and beatings. 'He's the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn't take no for an answer,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said in her closing arguments on Thursday. Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, portrayed the Bad Boys Records founder as the victim of overzealous prosecutors who exaggerated elements of his lifestyle and recreational drug use to bring charges that resulted in what he called a 'fake trial.' What is racketeering? The most serious charge, racketeering conspiracy, alleges that Combs ran a criminal enterprise for two decades that relied on bodyguards, household staff, personal assistants and others in his orbit to facilitate and cover up crimes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Federal prosecutors brought the charge under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. Congress passed the federal law in 1970 with the declared purpose of targeting organized crime, but its use has been more widespread. To prove the charge, prosecutors must show that an enterprise existed and was involved in a pattern of racketeering activity. In this case, that alleged activity includes kidnapping, arson, bribery and sex trafficking. Key pieces of evidence Early in the trial, prosecutors showed jurors 2016 security video of Combs beating and kicking his former longtime girlfriend Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel. Cassie, an R&B singer whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, testified the assault took place as she was trying to leave one of the sexual encounters, which witnesses say he referred to as 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights.' Jurors saw numerous explicit clips of such encounters, some involving Cassie and others involving a later girlfriend who was identified only by the the pseudonym 'Jane.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Both women took the stand. Cassie testified over four days that she participated in hundreds of the events with paid sex workers while she and Combs were in a relationship from 2007 until 2018, often feeling like she didn't have a choice. She sued Combs in 2023, alleging years of abuse. He settled within hours, and dozens of similar lawsuits followed. Jane testified over six days that she was romantically involved with Combs from 2021 until his September arrest at a New York hotel, and that she, too, felt forced to have sex with the hired strangers in multiday sex marathons while Combs watched. The Associated Press doesn't generally identify people who say they are victims of sexual abuse unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has done. Testimony also included hours of text message exchanges, some of which involved Combs or other people in his orbit, that were read aloud by a Homeland Security Investigations agent. In all, 34 people took the stand, all of them called by the prosecution. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Combs did not testify.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer mocks sex trafficking case in closing, calls charges 'badly exaggerated'
NEW YORK — Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer implored a jury on Friday to acquit the hip-hop mogul, arguing overzealous federal prosecutors twisted his drug use and swinger lifestyle into a sex trafficking and racketeering case that could put him behind bars for life. Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer mocks sex trafficking case in closing, calls charges 'badly exaggerated' 'He is none of these things. He is innocent,' defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said, glancing at Combs during a four-hour closing argument. "He sits there innocent. Return him to his family who have been waiting for him.' Jurors are expected to begin deliberating Monday. Agnifilo repeatedly mocked the government's case, peppering his presentation with folksy quips and bawdy observations. He said prosecutors 'badly exaggerated' the charges, and he belittled federal agents who seized baby oil and lubricant in raids last year at Combs' Los Angeles and Miami-area homes. 'Way to go, fellas,' the defense lawyer said. Agnifilo accused the government of targeting Combs, irritating prosecutors and the judge, and questioned why no one else was charged in what the prosecution alleges was a racketeering conspiracy involving Combs' personal assistants, bodyguards and other employees. Judge Arun Subramanian instructed jurors not to consider why or how the government obtained an indictment. In a rebuttal, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey said Agnifilo spent 'a whole lot of energy' trying to distract from Combs' 'inexcusable criminal behavior.' 'Make no mistake," Comey told jurors, "this trial was about how in Sean Combs' world, 'no' was never an option.' Agnifilo called Combs' prosecution a 'fake trial" and ridiculed the notion that the 'I'll Be Missing You' singer engaged in racketeering. 'Are you kidding me?' Agnifilo asked. 'Did any witness get on that witness stand and say, 'Yes, I was part of a racketeering enterprise — I engaged in racketeering?'' No, those accusations were a figment of the prosecution's imagination, he argued. Combs, in a sweater and khakis, watched Agnifilo with rapt attention after looking down and slouching during Thursday's prosecution closing. He didn't testify during the seven-week trial, and his lawyers called no witnesses of their own. Combs' family, including six of his children and his mother, sat behind him. When the day was finished, Combs hugged one of his lawyers and smiled as he conversed with others. As the jury filed out of the courtroom for the last time this week, Combs watched them, but the jurors didn't look his way. Combs' ex-girlfriends R&B singer Cassie and a woman testifying under the pseudonym 'Jane' told jurors that Combs coerced them into participating in 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights' — drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers while Combs watched, directed, masturbated and sometimes filmed them. Agnifilo argued prosecutors had invaded Combs' most intimate personal affairs, warning jurors: 'Where's the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life." He also mocked the prosecution's assertion that Combs and his underlings engaged in hundreds of racketeering acts, as well as the government's suggestion that many of the sex marathons at the heart of the case were crimes. If that's so, he said, 'we need a bigger roll of crime scene tape,' a reference to a famous line from the movie 'Jaws.' Agnifilo argued there's another factor at play in the allegations that women have lobbed against him: the prospect of draining him of his wealth through lawsuits. 'This isn't about a crime. This is about money. It's about money," Agnifilo said. Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, sued Combs in November 2023 over abuse allegations. He settled with her the next day for $20 million, but the allegations prompted federal law enforcement to open the criminal investigation that led to his arrest. Dozens of other lawsuits followed. 'If you had to pick a winner in this whole thing, it's hard not to pick Cassie,' Agnifilo said. Agnifilo reiterated that the defense 'owns' the fact that Combs was violent but argued that behavior does not justify the grave charges against him. Combs and Cassie had a 'loving, beautiful relationship,' albeit a 'complicated' one, Agnifilo said. 'If racketeering conspiracy had an opposite, it would be their relationship." Agnifilo said. "They were truly, deeply in love with each other, for real." Echoing prosecutor Christy Slavik's closing argument on Thursday, Agnifilo showed jurors part of the now-infamous security camera footage of Combs attacking Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. Agnifilo acknowledged that the video clearly shows domestic violence, but he disputed the prosecution's theory that the assault was evidence of sex trafficking by force. He insisted Combs may have been angry not that Cassie was trying to flee a 'freak-off,' but that she was taking his cellphone. In her rebuttal, Comey said: 'Being a domestic abuser is not a defense to sex trafficking.' This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
