Prosecutors told the jury on Thursday that Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges, oversaw a significant criminal conspiracy.
In her opening statement, prosecutor Christy Slavik told the jury that the defendant “used power, violence, and fear to obtain what he wanted.” He believed that the law was being overturned by his fame, wealth, and status.
Harrowing testimony from women who described an environment of cruelty, exploitation, and intimidation have been included in the trial of the billionaire former rapper, a key player in the development of hip-hop in US popular culture.
Prosecutors claimed that Combs used footage of people having sex acts as leverage after six weeks of testimony to push people to attend “freak offs” or “freak parties.”
Slavik claimed that Combs “again and again forced, threatened, and manipulated” singer and former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura to engage in sexual activity for his own entertainment and used a “small army of employees” from his entertainment empire to cover up abuses and intimidate anyone who tried to push back.
Combs was seated with his head down while Slavik, who was wearing a khaki sweater and khaki pants, made her remarks to the jury. Although Combs has a violent temperament and has assaulted romantic partners, his attorneys claim that prosecutors have misrepresented a sexually antiquated lifestyle as evidence for crimes like trafficking and racketeering.
Judge Arun Subramanian instructed the jury to begin deliberation on Friday, with the defense getting the chance to challenge the defense. Then, before jurors are given instructions on their responsibilities and sent to begin deliberation, the defense would hear the prosecution’s final statements.
Source: Aljazeera
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