NEW YORK (AP) — Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs returned to federal courtroom in New York Metropolis on Friday, pleading not responsible to the most recent model of an indictment charging him with twenty years of intercourse trafficking crimes.
The 55-year-old Combs, his beard noticeably grayer than even weeks in the past, stood along with his palms folded earlier than him as he informed Choose Arun Subramanian that he had learn the indictment and understood the costs in opposition to him.
Combs, who has been held with out bail since his September arrest, hugged two of his attorneys as he entered the courtroom.
Subramanian informed attorneys that questionnaires will probably be distributed to a whole lot of potential jurors on the finish of April in order that questioning of would-be jurors can start on Could 5, with opening statements anticipated to happen on Could 12.
Based on the indictment, Combs used the “power and prestige” he wielded as a music mogul to intimidate, threaten and lure ladies into his orbit, usually below the pretense of a romantic relationship.
The indictment mentioned he then used drive, threats and coercion to trigger victims, together with the three ladies, to have interaction in industrial intercourse acts.
It mentioned he subjected his victims to violence, threats of violence, threats of monetary and reputational hurt and verbal abuse.
“On multiple occasions, Combs threw both objects and people, as well as hit, dragged, choked and shoved others,” it mentioned. “On one occasion, Combs dangled a victim over an apartment balcony.”
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Protection attorneys have argued that prosecutors had been making an attempt to demonize intercourse acts between consenting adults.
A part of the dialogue in courtroom Friday revolved round what will probably be allowed on the trial concerning a video that aired on CNN final yr that confirmed Combs punching his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, and throwing her on the ground in a resort hallway.
Assistant U.S. Legal professional Mitzi Steiner mentioned the video was “critical to the case.”
Protection legal professional Marc Agnifilo mentioned the video was “deceptive and not in accordance with the actions that took place.”
He mentioned sure actions had been accelerated within the video by as a lot as 50 % and others had been taken out of order.
“From the defense standpoint, it’s a misleading piece of evidence, a deceptive piece of evidence, a piece of evidence that has been changed,” he mentioned.
Combs blew kisses and waved to members of the family within the gallery as he was led out of the courtroom by marshals.
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