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New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers acknowledged abuse in successful trial strategy
WITH their client caught on tape beating one of his former girlfriends, Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers at his sex trafficking trial never sought to deny that he was physically abusive. Instead, their trial strategy focused on convincing jurors that there was no direct link between what they called domestic violence and two of Combs' ex-girlfriends' decisions to take part in drug-fuelled sex marathons with paid male escorts. Legal experts said the argument appeared to have been successful, with jurors voting on Wednesday to acquit Combs, 55, on the most serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, a lesser offense. "His attorneys were smart and they owned the bad facts," said Anna Cominsky, a professor at New York Law School. "They fought on the things that mattered and it paid off." The verdict spared Combs, who founded Bad Boy Records and is credited with popularising hip-hop in American culture, a potential life sentence. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each prostitution count. Prosecutors acknowledged in a court filing that federal sentencing guidelines appeared to recommend a maximum sentence of about 5-1/4 years. Combs' lawyers argued that two years would be the outer limit. Still, the argument appeared to have been a double-edged sword when it came to Combs' bid for bail. US District Judge Arun Subramanian on Wednesday denied Combs' request to be released from jail ahead of his sentencing later this year, citing defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo's concession in his June 27 closing argument that Combs had committed abuse. "Domestic violence is violence, and you said that this is a case that did involve violence," Subramanian said in court. The jury's deliberations took place behind closed doors, and the reasoning of their decision is not known. But legal experts said the defence put forth a strong case that Combs' romantic relationships may have been combustible and at times violent, but that his conduct did not meet the definition of sex trafficking. Defence lawyers argued that both of his former girlfriends who testified, the rhythm and blues singer Casandra Ventura and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane, loved Combs and consensually took part in the sexual performances to make him happy. To convict Combs of sex trafficking, prosecutors would have had to show that Combs used force, fraud or coercion to compel Ventura and Jane to take part in ecstasy-fuelled, days-long sexual performances with male sex workers sometimes known as "Freak Offs." The case differed from recent high-profile sex trafficking convictions, including those of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and rhythm and blues singer R. Kelly. Those cases involved underage victims, meaning prosecutors did not have to prove a lack of consent to secure a conviction. At Combs' trial, prosecutors had the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that adult women, who said they loved Combs and had consensual sex with him many times, did not consent to the "Freak Offs" on certain occasions. "This was a very different scenario than what we usually see with sex trafficking cases," said Sarah Krissoff, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan and current partner at law firm Cozen O'Connor. "These were messy, toxic, violent relationships with lots of drama." During cross-examination of the government's witnesses, the defence brought jurors' attention to sexually explicit text messages in which the women expressed affection for Combs. "She was always free to leave," Agnifilo said in closing, referring to Ventura. "She chose to stay because she was in love with him." The Manhattan US Attorney's office, which brought the case, said in a statement after the verdict: "Sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society." Prosecutors pointed to testimony from both Ventura and Jane that Combs threatened to cut off financial support and release sex tapes. They showed jurors a hotel surveillance video of Combs attacking Ventura. "No was never an option for Cassie," prosecutor Maurene Comey told jurors in her final argument last month. To undermine the defence argument that Ventura and Jane took part in the "Freak Offs" consensually, prosecutors called forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes as an expert witness. She said victims sometimes form a "trauma bond" with perpetrators that can make it difficult to leave an abusive relationship. Agnifilo urged jurors to rely on their own intuitions about relationships rather than expert testimony. "They didn't always like him, but they loved him," Agnifilo said. "They didn't want to leave him."

Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial verdict: Music mogul's family reacts as he's acquitted on most serious charges
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial ended in a mixed verdict. On Wednesday, the music mogul was found guilty of two charges related to the transportation of former girlfriends for prostitution, but was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges. The 55-year-old's family and fans are now celebrating the verdict, New York Post reported. Janice Combs and Chance Combs walk outside the U.S. federal court, after the jury reached verdicts in the Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., July 2, 2025. (REUTERS) In the bombshell case, prosecutors had accused Sean 'Diddy' Combs of using his business empire to force two of his partners to take part in drug-fueled, days-long parties, sometimes known as 'Freak Offs,' with male sex workers while the musician watched, per Reuters. Also read: Sean 'Diddy' Combs found guilty of engaging in prostitution, cleared of sex trafficking and other serious charges How Sean 'Diddy' Combs family reacted to his verdict The music producer's mother, Janice Combs, 85, was spotted outside the courthouse, giving a big thumbs up to the crowd. She and Diddy's children, including Justin, walked out of the courthouse. The 31-year-old is also facing allegations of raping a woman alongside his father in a civil suit, the Mirror reported. Meanwhile, Diddy pumped his fist in the air after the verdict, per New York Post. He was seen mouthing 'thank you' to the jurors and was seen kneeling in front of his chair and bowing before he was taken away by the marshals. Sean Diddy Combs' verdict details The rapper is expected to face a maximum of 20 years in prison on the two charges. However, former federal prosecutor Mitchell Epner told the outlet that the Bad Boy Records founder could get a much lighter sentencing, amounting to months instead of years. Combs has been in jail since his arrest on September 16. This means he could potentially have already served most of his sentence. The sentencing is expected to take place in a few months. Epner also believed that Judge Arun Subramanian could agree to Combs' request to be released on bail before the sentencing. FAQs: 1. What was the verdict of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial? The rapper was convicted of two counts of transportation of former girlfriends for prostitution. 2. How did Diddy's mother react to the verdict? She gave a thumbs-up to the crowd outside the courthouse. 3. What was Diddy accused of? He was accused of racketeering conspiracy, transportation to engage in prostitution and sex trafficking.

SowetanLIVE
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SowetanLIVE
Baby oil and a torched Porsche: key moments from Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial
Sean "Diddy" Combs will avoid a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence after was found guilty of prostitution-related offenses on Wednesday but acquitted of more serious charges, in a blow to prosecutors. Combs pleaded not guilty to all five counts he faced. Here are seven key moments from the trial testimony: BABY OIL AND ASTROGLIDE Prosecutors on May 21 showed jurors bottles of baby oil and Astroglide lubricant that Homeland Security Investigations found during a search of Combs' Miami Beach home in March 2024. Prosecutors said Combs used those items in sexual encounters with his girlfriends and male escorts sometimes called "Freak Offs." Gerard Gannon, an HSI agent who took part in the raid, testified on May 21 that agents found 25 bottles of baby oil and 31 bottles of Astroglide in Combs' closet. 'VOYEURISM AS A FANTASY' Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer who dated Combs for 11 years, said that within the first year of their relationship he introduced her to the concept of "voyeurism." "He described voyeurism as a fantasy that he had where he would want to see me with another male and having sexual interaction," Ventura testified on May 13. RED LIGHTS, STRIPPER SHOES Another former girlfriend of Combs' who testified under the pseudonym Jane said on June 5 that she took part in sexual encounters with Combs and male escorts which they called "hotel nights" from 2021 through 2024. Jane said the rooms would be lit with red lights, and that she and Combs would choose together the outfits she wore, which usually included "provocative lingerie and really high stripper shoes." THE 'PUNISHER' AND A NUDE MALE WITH A VEIL Sharay Hayes, a male exotic danger known as "The Punisher," testified on May 20 that he frequently was paid to take part in "Freak Offs" with Ventura and Combs. The first time, while he and Ventura were applying baby oil on each other, Hayes said he saw a nude male enter the hotel room carrying Astroglide lubricant and covering his face with a veil "like what the Muslim women wear." Hayes said he later learned the man was Combs. A TORCHED PORSCHE Scott Mescudi, the rapper known as Kid Cudi, testified on May 22 that after Combs learned in December 2011 that Mescudi was seeing Ventura, Combs broke into Mescudi's home, opened Christmas presents Mescudi had bought for his relatives, and locked Mescudi's dog in a bathroom. Weeks later, Mescudi said his Porsche was set ablaze with a Molotov cocktail in his driveway. "I knew he had something to do with it," Mescudi said of Combs. 'CRYING AND SAYING NO' Ventura fought back tears as she said Combs raped her in her living room in 2018, after they ended their relationship. "I just remember crying and saying no but it was very fast," Ventura testified on May 14. 'IS THIS COERCION?' Jane testified on June 9 that after a dispute at her home last year, Combs kicked, punched and dragged her in her backyard. She said Combs then directed her to perform oral sex on a male escort named Anton even though she had told him she did not want to. According to Jane, Combs got close to her face and said, "Is this coercion?" MIXED VERDICT Combs was found guilty on July 2 of prostitution-related offenses but cleared of more serious charges, in a blow to prosecutors who had urged a jury to find him guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.


Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sean Diddy Combs not guilty! Hip-hop mogul acquitted of most serious charges, convicted for prostitution-related offense
Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was acquitted Wednesday of the most serious charges against him — including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — but was found guilty on a lesser charge related to prostitution. The verdict followed a high-profile criminal trial in Manhattan federal court, where two of Combs' former partners testified that the music icon physically and sexually abused them. The jury convicted Combs of transporting individuals for prostitution but cleared him of racketeering and two sex trafficking charges — a partial legal victory for the 55-year-old former billionaire who played a pivotal role in shaping American hip-hop culture. Prosecutors alleged that over two decades, Combs used his vast business empire to coerce two of his romantic partners — singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and a woman identified in court only as 'Jane' — into taking part in drug-fueled, days-long sexual encounters, dubbed 'Freak Offs,' with male sex workers. Prosecutors claimed Combs often watched, masturbated, and occasionally filmed the acts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Most Expensive Cars In The World Undo Raids on Combs' properties reportedly uncovered illegal drugs and approximately 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricants allegedly used during the encounters. Combs had pleaded not guilty to all five charges. His attorneys acknowledged he was violent in past relationships but maintained that all sexual activity described by the prosecution was consensual. Live Events The seven-week trial offered a rare glimpse into Combs' private life and business operations. Ventura, who sued Combs for sex trafficking in November 2023 — a lawsuit later settled for $20 million — and 'Jane' both testified in graphic detail. The jury viewed 2016 surveillance footage showing Combs assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway, where she said she was attempting to flee one such 'Freak Off.' Jane testified that in June 2024, Combs assaulted her and forced her to perform oral sex on a male entertainer against her will — an incident that occurred just weeks after Combs publicly apologized for the 2016 assault on Ventura, which had aired on CNN. According to prosecutors, Combs used not only physical violence but also coercion to control Ventura and Jane — including threats to cut off financial support or leak explicit material — which they argued constituted sex trafficking due to the involvement of paid escorts. 'The defendant used power, violence, and fear to get what he wanted,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said during closing arguments on June 26. 'He doesn't take no for an answer.' The defense countered that while Combs may have engaged in domestic violence, the prosecution failed to prove the legal threshold for sex trafficking. They portrayed Ventura and Jane as strong, independent women who voluntarily participated in the sexual acts to please Combs, and argued their testimonies were shaped by jealousy and regret. 'If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldn't all be here,' defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said in his closing on June 27. 'He did not do the things he's charged with.' Allegations of Racketeering In addition to the testimonies of Ventura and Jane, jurors also heard from former personal assistants who claimed their responsibilities included booking hotels for "Freak Offs" and purchasing drugs for Combs. A security guard at the InterContinental Hotel testified that Combs, in the presence of his chief of staff, paid $100,000 for what was believed to be the only copy of the surveillance footage showing the Ventura assault. Rapper Scott Mescudi, better known as Kid Cudi, testified that his car was set on fire after Combs discovered he was romantically involved with Ventura — a suspected act of intimidation that prosecutors said formed part of a broader racketeering conspiracy designed to facilitate abuse and suppress evidence. The defense painted a different picture of Combs: a wealthy, successful entrepreneur who may have used drugs recreationally but kept his personal issues separate from his business dealings. Combs has been in federal custody at a Brooklyn facility since his arrest in September 2024.


Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Sean 'Diddy' Combs jury decides on some counts, verdict not yet known
The jury at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial has reached a verdict on four of the five counts the music mogul faces, the judge overseeing the case said on Tuesday, without revealing the outcome. Sean Diddy Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty to all five counts.(File/AFP) After two days of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict on four charges: two counts of sex trafficking and two of transportation to engage in prostitution, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian announced. But the judge said the jury had not been able to reach a verdict on a fifth charge, racketeering conspiracy, because jurors had "unpersuadable opinions on both sides." He instructed the jury to continue deliberating on the racketeering conspiracy count. The jury will resume deliberations at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) on Wednesday. Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty to all five counts. If convicted of sex trafficking or racketeering, the former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture could face life in prison. Before Subramanian read the jury's note, Combs rubbed his eyes and rested his face against his palm while seated at the defense table with his lawyers huddled around him. One defense lawyer, Brian Steel, rubbed Combs' shoulder. Two of Combs' other defense lawyers put their arms around each other. The partial verdict comes after a seven-week trial in which two of the music mogul's former girlfriends testified that he physically and sexually abused them. Prosecutors say Combs was charged with racketeering because for two decades he used his business empire to force two of his romantic partners to take part in drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances sometimes known as "Freak Offs" with male sex workers in hotel rooms while Combs watched, masturbated and occasionally filmed. His lawyers acknowledged that the Bad Boy Records founder, once famed for hosting lavish parties for the cultural elite in luxurious locales like the Hamptons and Saint-Tropez, was at times violent in his domestic relationships. But they said the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual. JURY ASKS TO REVIEW CASSIE'S TESTIMONY Earlier on Tuesday, the jury asked to review portions of the testimony of the rhythm and blues singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, who testified that Combs forced her to take part in "Freak Offs" throughout their decade-long relationship. The 12-member jury asked to review Ventura's testimony regarding a 2016 incident at an InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles, when a surveillance camera captured footage of Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in a hallway. Jurors saw the security camera footage several times throughout the trial. Prosecutors say that at the time of the incident, Ventura was attempting to leave a "Freak Off," Combs' term for a drug-fueled sex marathon in which he would watch Ventura have sex with a paid male escort while he masturbated and sometimes filmed. Prosecutors say that conduct amounted to sex trafficking because Combs used force and threats to cut off financial support or release sex tapes of Ventura to coerce her to take part in the performances, and because the escorts were paid. Combs' defense pointed to tender and sexually explicit text messages that Ventura sent Combs throughout their relationship to bolster their argument that she took part in the "Freak Offs" because she loved Combs and wanted to make him happy. They say the violent 2016 altercation stemmed from a dispute about Combs' relationship with another woman. Prosecutors charged Combs with racketeering conspiracy because they say his employees facilitated his abuse by setting up hotel rooms for "Freak Offs" and procuring illegal drugs for the sex parties. The defense argued that Combs kept his personal and professional lives separate, and that the drugs were for his personal use.