Sean “Diddy” legal professionals appear to have supplied a preview of their authorized protection of their case of sexual trafficking, arguing that the rapper led the “way of life” of a “swinger” and was not a legal.
At an viewers in New York on Friday, simply over every week earlier than his trial, his legal professionals advised the court docket that the rap magnate thought it was “acceptable” to have a number of sexual companions, together with intercourse employees, as a result of it’s “widespread.”
Federal prosecutors additionally revealed to the court docket on Friday that had supplied combs a guilt settlement, which he rejected.
The trial of Mr. Combs, one of the vital profitable rappers and magnates in america, will start with the jury choice on Might 5.
The fees towards them embrace the conspiracy of extortion, intercourse trafficking and transport to take part in prostitution. Whether it is declared responsible, you can face life imprisonment.
“There’s a way of life, calling him swingers or no matter they need, that he thought it was acceptable as a result of it was widespread,” mentioned Mr. Combs’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, within the Manhattan court docket on Friday, the US media reported.
“Many individuals suppose it’s acceptable as a result of it’s common,” he added.
Throughout the viewers, Mr. Combs, 55, was solemnly listening to the procedures and whispening and transmitting notes to his legal professionals.
He smiled at certainly one of his youngsters who was current within the court docket room with picket panels.
It additionally emerged on Friday that ComBs had rejected a guilt settlement with prosecutors. The phrases of the settlement weren’t shared with the reporters.
Decide Arun Subramanian dominated that the group has the precise to quote their way of life of their protection arguments, however that they can not cite different examples of distinguished swingers, or anybody who knew that you’ve got employed intercourse employees.
The choose additionally dominated that prosecutors can present within the trial the video of Mr. Combs bodily attacking his former associate, singer Cassie Ventura, in a lodge in 2016.
Mr. combs’ legal professionals don’t deny that he’s seen kicking and dragging Mrs. Ventura by way of a hall, however argue that the video is “deceptive.”
They argue that the footage, which was transmitted by CNN final yr, was accelerated and offered by sequence. They’d tried to make the tape blocked to be admitted as proof.
Two witnesses are about to testify in regards to the authenticity of the video, in response to prosecutors.
Prosecutors additionally requested the choose to permit the testimony of an alleged sufferer who plans to explain a “medical process” that she underwent in relation to accusations of intercourse.
The choose didn’t instantly rule on the movement. Prosecutors didn’t current extra particulars in regards to the supposed medical process.
In addition they search for permission to indicate the pictures of the jury of a sexual encounter that entails Mr. Combs. They mentioned that the video shouldn’t be proven to the general public as a result of it’s “extraordinarily delicate.”
Mr. combs is accused of an extortion and sexual trafficking scheme, the place “Freak offs” was supposedly ready wherein his victims have been coerced in sexual actions. His legal professionals argue that the experiences have been agreed.
Your trial is anticipated to last as long as ten weeks and can happen in New York Metropolis. It’s anticipated to be open to the general public, however not reside.
Opening statements are scheduled to start on Might 12.