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CTV News
01-07-2025
- CTV News
Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial but is told to keep deliberating
Sean 'Diddy' Combs participates in "The Four" panel during the FOX Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 4, 2018. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Warning: The following story contains graphic details NEW YORK — The jury in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial said Tuesday that it has reached a verdict on four of five counts against the hip-hop mogul. But the partial decision remained under wraps after jurors were told to keep deliberating because they were stuck on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors, Combs' defense team and Judge Arun Subramanian reasoned that after just two days of deliberations, it was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts. So rather than taking a partial verdict, Subramanian told the jury to continue weighing the remaining charge. Deliberations will continue Wednesday. The developments came late Tuesday afternoon, when the jury sent a note saying it was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge because there were jurors with 'unpersuadable views' on both sides. But in less than 13 hours of deliberations, the jury did reach a verdict on two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The latter concerns allegations of arranging to fly the women and sex workers across state lines. If there is a conviction, the sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The outstanding charge, racketeering conspiracy, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. After hearing about the jury note, Combs, 55, appeared morose as his lawyers spoke with him. At one point, the hip-hop mogul solemnly read a piece of paper that attorney Marc Agnifilo handed to him. After the jury came in for instructions and then exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a few minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his relatives and supporters in the audience, blew a kiss and tapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day. Then he paused before his mother and exchanged a few words, telling her, 'Love you' and 'I'll be all right.' Marshals then led him from the room. Jurors are weighing charges that Combs used his fame, wealth and violence to force two girlfriends into drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers known as 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights.' He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers contend prosecutors are trying to criminalize Combs' swinger lifestyle and that, if anything, his conduct amounted to domestic violence, not federal felonies. Racketeering conspiracy is the most complicated charge because it requires the jury to decide not only whether Combs ran a 'racketeering enterprise,' but also whether he was involved in committing such offenses as some or all of various types of offenses, such as kidnapping and arson. Earlier Tuesday, the jury asked to review critical testimony from one of the prosecution's most important witnesses: the hip-hop mogul's former longtime girlfriend Cassie, the R&B singer born Casandra Ventura. The panel of eight men and four women asked for Cassie's account of Combs beating, kicking and dragging her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 -- an assault captured on now-infamous security camera footage. They also asked to see Cassie's testimony about when she said Combs accused her of taking drugs from him and kicked her off their yacht at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2013. On their way back to the U.S., she said, he threatened to release explicit videos of her having sex. In addition, the jury asked for Cassie and stripper Daniel Phillip's testimony about her jumping into his lap at a New York City hotel. Phillip testified that 'she was terrified,' and he suspected Combs had been slapping and slamming her around an adjacent room. Phillip testified that he told her she was in real danger. Cassie, he said, 'basically tried to convince me that it was OK: `It's OK. I'm fine, I'll be OK.'' Tuesday's court session began with the lawyers and judge considering the jury's request late Monday for clarification about what qualifies as drug distribution, an aspect of the racketeering conspiracy charge. Subramanian ultimately reminded jurors of instructions he'd already given on that part of the case. On Monday, barely an hour into deliberations, the foreperson sent a note complaining that there was one juror 'who we are concerned cannot follow your Honor's instructions.' In response, the judge reminded jurors of their duties to deliberate and follow his instructions on the law. At the trial, Combs chose not to testify. His lawyers built their arguments for acquittal mostly through lengthy cross-examinations of dozens of prosecution witnesses. By Michael R. Sisak, Larry Neumeister And Jennifer Peltz.
Toronto Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer mocks sex trafficking case in closing, says charges 'badly exaggerated'
Published Jun 27, 2025 • 2 minute read Sean "Diddy" Combs participates in "The Four" panel during the FOX Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 4, 2018. Photo by Richard Shotwell / Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. NEW YORK — Sean 'Diddy' Combs was portrayed in his lawyer's closing argument on Friday as the victim of an overzealous prosecution that tried to turn the recreational use of drugs and a swinger lifestyle into a racketeering conspiracy that could put the music mogul behind bars for life. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Attorney Marc Angifilo mocked the government's case against Combs and belittled the agents who seized hundreds of bottles of Astroglide lubricant and baby oil at the hip hop impresario's properties. 'Way to go, fellas,' Agnifilo said as he began a presentation expected to last several hours. He said prosecutors had 'badly exaggerated' evidence of the swinger lifestyle and threesomes to combine it with recreational drug use and call it a racketeering conspiracy. 'He did not do the things he's charged with. He didn't do racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking,' the lawyer said. Agnifilo also called Combs' prosecution a 'fake trial' and ridiculed the notion that he engaged in racketeering. 'Are you kidding me? 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, Agnifilo argued, telling jurors that those accusations were a figment of the prosecution's imagination. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Combs' family, including six of his children and his mother, were in the audience for the closing. All his life Combs has taken care of people, Agnifilo said, including the ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym Jane, whose rent he's paying. 'I don't know what Jane is doing today,' Agnifilo said. 'But she's doing it in a house he's paying for.' Referring to lawsuits filed by Combs' accusers, he said: 'This isn't about crime. It's about money. This is about money.' He noted that Combs' girlfriend of nearly 11 years _ Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura — sued him in a lawsuit that was settled for $20 million in a day in November 2023, triggering a federal probe the following day. 'If you had to pick a winner in this whole thing, it's hard not to pick Cassie,' Agnifilo said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Cassie and Jane both testified during the trial that they were coerced repeatedly by Combs to perform in drug-fueled dayslong sex marathons with male sex workers while Combs watched, directed, masturbated and sometimes filmed the encounters. If convicted, Combs could face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life. He did not testify during the trial that is in its seventh week. After Agnifilo completes his closing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey was expected to deliver a rebuttal summation before the judge reads the law to the jury, which is not expected to begin deliberations until Monday. Toronto Raptors Toronto Raptors Music Sunshine Girls Canada
Black America Web
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Evvie McKinney Talks New Music and Viral Performance
Source: Reach Media / Urban One When two powerhouses of faith and music sit down together, inspiration is inevitable. On a recent episode of The Nightly Spirit, host Darlene McCoy welcomed gospel singer Evvie McKinney for a heartfelt conversation. STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER! Evvie opened up about her musical journey, reflecting on the pivotal moments that shaped her career—including her viral win on 'The Four.' More than accolades, Evvie's focus has always been her relationship with Jesus, even when faced with pressure to downplay her faith on national television. 'Throughout my entire career… one thing that I have been unapologetic about is Jesus,' she shared. Darlene recognized the courage it takes for artists to stand firm in their beliefs, especially in an industry where faith is often misunderstood. The interview also highlighted the importance of spiritual integrity. Both Darlene and Evvie encouraged aspiring artists to trust God's guidance above all else. 'God is just expanding your territory,' Darlene affirmed, reminding listeners that spiritual growth goes hand in hand with professional success. READ MORE STORIES FROM THE NIGHTLY SPIRIT: Evvie's newest release, 'Believe in Jesus,' featuring Doe, is a testament to friendship, motherhood, and devotion. The bond between Evvie and Doe brings a fresh perspective to gospel music, blending heartfelt lyrics with lived experience. For gospel music enthusiasts and faith-driven listeners alike, Darlene and Evvie's conversation is a reminder that staying true to your faith will light the way—even in the spotlight. SEE ALSO
Toronto Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial is set to begin with jury selection
Published May 05, 2025 • 3 minute read Sean 'Diddy' Combs participates in "The Four" panel during the FOX Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 4, 2018. Photo by Richard Shotwell / Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. NEW YORK — Sean 'Diddy' Combs, the hip-hop entrepreneur whose wildly successful career has been dotted by allegations of violence, was brought to a New York courthouse Monday to be tried on charges that he used the influence and resources of his business empire to sexually abuse women. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Jury selection was scheduled to begin in the morning and potentially take several days. Opening statements by the lawyers and the start of testimony were expected next week. Judge Arun Subramanian started the proceedings shortly after 9 a.m. by making several rulings on what things experts would be allowed to testify about when they take the witness stand. The 17-page indictment against Combs reads like a charging document filed against a Mafia leader or the head of a drug gang, accusing him of engaging in sex trafficking and presiding over a racketeering conspiracy. The indictment says that with the help of people in his entourage and employees from his network of businesses, Combs engaged in a two-decade pattern of abusive behavior against women and others. Women were manipulated into participating in drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers that Combs called 'Freak Offs,' prosecutors say. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. To keep women in line, prosecutors say Combs used a mix of influence and violence: He offered to boost their entertainment careers if they did what he asked — or cut them off if they didn't. And when he wasn't getting what he wanted, the indictment says Combs and his associates resorted to violent acts including beatings, kidnapping and arson. Once, the indictment alleges, he even dangled someone from a balcony. Combs and his lawyers say he is innocent. Any group sex was consensual, they say. There was no effort to coerce people into things they didn't want to do, and nothing that happened amounted to a criminal racket, they say. The trial is expected to take at least eight weeks. Combs, 55, has acknowledged one episode of violence that is likely to be featured in the trial. In 2016, a security camera recorded him beating up his former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel. Cassie filed a lawsuit in late 2023 saying Combs had subjected her to years of abuse, including beatings and rape. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, did. Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has said Combs was 'not a perfect person' and that there had been drug use and toxic relationships, but said all sexual activity between Combs, Cassie and other people was consensual. The trial is the latest and most serious in a long string of legal problems for Combs. If convicted, he faces the possibility of decades in prison. In 1999 he was charged with bursting into the offices of an Interscope Records executive with his bodyguards and beating him with a champagne bottle and a chair. The executive, Steve Stoute, later asked prosecutors to go easy on Combs, who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and took an anger management class. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Later that same year, Combs was stopped by police after he and his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, fled a nightclub where three people were wounded by gunfire. Combs was acquitted of all charges related to the episode at a 2001 trial, but a rapper in his entourage, Jamal 'Shyne' Barrow, was convicted in the shooting and served nearly nine years in prison. Then in 2015, Combs was charged with assaulting someone with a weight-room kettlebell at the University of California, Los Angeles, where one of his sons played football. Combs said he was defending himself and prosecutors dropped the case. Read More Columnists Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs Movies
