Disgraced rapper and music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial has come to an end as the prosecution and defence read out their closing statements as the jury deliberates
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ closing statements have been made in his sex trafficking trial. The disgraced rapper, 55, is currently facing a number of serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.
His trial started last month after he was arrested in September last year. Combs strongly denies all allegations made against him. He has been in prison since his arrest, and a number of bail requests have been rejected.
On Thursday, the prosecution completed their closing arguments. Today, the defence team delivered theirs, followed by the government’s rebuttal. The case will then go to the jury.
Among them, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said of his client: “He obviously had a drug problem. No question.”
Moving on to one of the government’s two sex-trafficking charges, he said: “The evidence, I think, is overwhelming that Cassie [Ventura] wanted to do this.” He said Ventura and Combs were “validly swingers.”
He then said his client is “the only man in America” being put on trial for making home-made pornography. Agnifilo then joked: “I’m under the impression this is a popular thing nowadays.”
And of Jane Doe’s stance, he said she may now be “regretting that she made a choice” to join in with the freak-offs. He said: ” “Regret is not the same as intent at the time.”
Lead attorney Agnifilo’s said of the transportation for prostitution counts that Combs wasn’t paying men to have sex with his then-girlfriends. Instead, he says the singer was paying them for their time.
And he also argued prosecutors failed to provide enough evidence to prove the racketeering charge against Combs. “Nobody came into this courtroom and said I was a member of an enterprise and let me tell you how it worked,” said Agnifilo.
In his closing argument, Agnifilo pleaded with the jury: “Do the right thing”. “He’s not a racketeer … he’s none of these things,” Agnifilo claimed. “He sits here innocent,” he added as he asked jurors to return Combs, who has been held without bail since his arrest last year, “to his family who have been waiting for him.”
Assistant US attorney Christy Slavik told the court: “Over the last several weeks, you’ve learned a lot about Sean Combs. He’s the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn’t take no for an answer. And now you know about many crimes he committed with members of his enterprise.”
She said charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy were supported by proof that over two decades, Combs kidnapped one of his employees, committed arson by trying to blow up a car, engaged in forced labour, bribed a security officer and carried out the “brutal crimes at the heart of this case”.
Prosecutor Slavik said Combs “again and again forced, threatened and manipulated” former girlfriend Cassie Ventura and a former girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym Jane into “having sex with escorts for his own entertainment.”
“The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,” she said. “He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law.” She said Combs “counted on silence and shame” to enable and prolong his abuse.
The prosecutor continued and said Combs used a “small army” of employees to harm women and cover it up. The theory of racketeering law is that “when someone commits crime as part of a group, they’re more powerful and dangerous,” she said.
“The defendant was a powerful man, but he became more powerful and dangerous because of his inner circle, his businesses — the enterprise.” Combs and his inner circle “committed hundreds of racketeering acts,” she said.
As Ms Slavik spoke, Combs sat with his head down and his chair pushed back a few feet from the defence table. He was wearing a light-coloured sweater over a white button-down shirt and khakis.
Defence lawyers have argued that Combs was involved in domestic violence but committed no federal crimes. They built their case for acquittal through lengthy cross-examinations of most of the government’s 34 witnesses.
Some witnesses testified only in response to subpoenas and made it clear to the jury that they didn’t want to be there. Combs’ lawyers contend there was no racketeering conspiracy because none of his employees agreed to be part of any conspiracy.
Judge Arun Subramanian told jurors their deliberation can start next week.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
Source: Mirror
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