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Diddy in court docket, trial delay denied

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Diddy in court docket, trial delay denied

Diddy in court docket, trial delay denied

USA, Featured3 months ago7 Views

NEW YORK − The federal authorities’s sex-crimes case in opposition to Sean “Diddy” Combs will quickly be underway, underscoring an pressing push to carry one of many music business’s most outstanding figures accountable.

U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian dominated Friday in opposition to Combs’ protection crew’s request to push again the beginning of his federal trial. At a roughly two-hour listening to April 18, Combs was seen smiling and waving to some individuals as he exited the courtroom, together with his mom, after a extra emotionally subdued listening to than a earlier one in March.

The choice means Combs will go to trial Could 5 in a high-profile case intertwining celeb and energy beneath the highlight of federal sex-crimes and trafficking fees. The indictment in opposition to the music mogul emerged alongside dozens of separate civil fits suggesting a sample of abusive habits and exploitation spanning a long time, together with accusations of rape, sexual assault and bodily violence.

What we all know now about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ pre-trial court docket look

Sean “Diddy” Combs was in court docket for a pre-trial listening to in his federal intercourse crimes case. What was determined in in the present day’s listening to? Here’s what we all know now.

The embattled music mogul, 55, was arrested in September and has been charged with racketeering, intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. He has pleaded not responsible to all 5 counts.

The federal authorities is advancing forward to rein within the music business, which has confronted criticism for enabling troublesome habits behind the scenes.

Learn on for USA TODAY’s updates from the courtroom.

Diddy on Trial e-newsletter: Step contained in the courtroom with USA TODAY as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces intercourse crimes and trafficking fees. Subscribe to the e-newsletter.

Federal prosecutors scored one other win on April 18.

Subramanian dominated in opposition to the protection’s movement to delay the date of Combs’ trial two months after its scheduled Could 5 begin date.

Combs’ attorneys made the unique request in a movement filed April 16 within the U.S. District Court docket for the Southern District of New York, in line with court docket paperwork obtained by USA TODAY. The ruling comes as Combs now faces two new fees of intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution of the unnamed “Sufferer-2” filed earlier this month. –Patrick Ryan

Subramanian instructed the court docket there isn’t any cause to suppose that the protection doesn’t have ample time to place a protection collectively, roughly a month away from the Could 5 begin date.

When Combs walked into the courtroom, he wasn’t smiling however hugged each member of his authorized crew. All through the court docket listening to, Combs solemnly regarded across the room a number of instances. In some moments, he nodded alongside together with his protection crew, and at different instances handed notes to his attorneys. –Patrick Ryan

The choose granted alleged Victims 2, 3 and 4, as they’re named within the indictment, the precise to make use of a pseudonym all through the trial, explaining that it is not uncommon follow with sexual violence and trafficking instances.

Subramanian famous the significance of treating alleged victims with dignity and privateness and stated there may be “no clear cause” why names, addresses and locations of employment needs to be made public. –Patrick Ryan

The protection pushed again about using pseudonyms, saying that the nameless alleged victims have already been out in public and given interviews about Combs. The prosecution argued, nevertheless, that simply because victims have given interviews does not imply they included the entire explosive particulars of what allegedly occurred and thus did not waive their proper to anonymity. –Patrick Ryan

Prosecutors expressed concern about potential jurors disclosing their very own experiences with sexual assault or violence in written questionnaires, arguing that potential jurors is likely to be afraid of the place the paper surveys would go and who is likely to be studying their responses. They attorneys stated questions on potential jurors’ experiences ought to solely be disclosed in particular person by way of interviews with the attorneys. The protection argued jurors is likely to be afraid to debate their experiences aloud and pushed for the written disclosure.

Either side reached a compromise: Questionnaires will embrace a field that permits potential jurors to decide on whether or not they would like to talk about their experiences verbally or in writing. –Patrick Ryan

Over an hour of backwards and forwards between sides came about about probably excluding testimony from medical and forensic psychologist Dr. Daybreak Hughes.

The prosecution argued that Hughes could be a blind professional, who could be introduced in with no particulars concerning the case, and testify to fragmented reminiscence, processing trauma and coping methods. Prosecutors argued that Hughes may present “related and useful” context about topics that potential jurors will not be conversant in, together with “coercive management,” talking to how perpetrators exert energy over alleged victims and why these alleged victims might proceed to take part in sexual exercise with their abusers as an act of self-preservation.

Nonetheless, the protection argued that Hughes has by no means spoken to any of the alleged victims and thus would not know the specifics of their experiences. Hughes’ introduced testimony is “cloaked in all this jargon and a patina of science” and her testimony is “ineffective and meaningless,” the protection stated, arguing that it will confuse the jurors or probably push them to make inferences concerning the victims which may not have factual advantage to the case.

Subramanian stated he would take into account the arguments and rule later, however that solely parts of Hughes’ testimony would seemingly be allowed and with out utilizing the phrase “coercive management,” with Hughes describing that idea with totally different wording. –Patrick Ryan

Brian Metal, who represented rapper Younger Thug in his personal long-running authorized battle and RICO trial, appeared on the federal court docket constructing as he joins Combs’ authorized crew forward of the trial. –Anika Reed

Combs’ mom, Janice Combs, arrived at court docket April 18, donning sun shades and sporting a vibrant blonde bob as she entered the courthouse to assist her son. –Anika Reed

The Sean John founder’s attorneys requested extra time to arrange his protection in response to further proof and two new fees of intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution of “Sufferer-2.” Combs’ attorneys initially requested a two week-, and later, a two-month delay, claiming in an April 16 movement that there’s “considerably new conduct” alleged within the expanded April 3 indictment, and that the U.S. authorities continues to be producing proof.

Combs’ attorneys stated within the submitting that the proposed delay would enable Combs the “crucial time” to arrange his protection. In court docket paperwork filed April 17, the day earlier than the court docket listening to, Combs’ authorized crew additionally introduced their case for excluding from the trial footage of Combs attacking then-girlfriend Cassie. –Taijuan Moorman and Edward Segarra

The court docket listening to was scheduled to start out at 11 a.m. ET on April 18. –Anika Reed

When does Diddy’s trial begin?

Combs’ trial, which can happen in downtown Manhattan, is at present set to start Could 5 with jury choice. The trial’s begin date is identical day because the Met Gala on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork in New York, simply miles away from the courthouse. On a number of events, Combs attended the unique annual gala, benefitting the museum’s Costume Institute. –Anna Kaufman and Anika Reed

Is Sean Combs in jail?

Regardless of repeated makes an attempt at bail, Combs was ordered to stay in custody on the Particular Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Middle forward of trial — a ruling his authorized crew has challenged within the Second Circuit Court docket of Appeals. He is been jailed since his arrest on Sept. 16. –Anna Kaufman

What’s Diddy accused of?

Combs’ federal case entails a slim variety of alleged victims.

Utilizing RICO regulation, which is aimed toward concentrating on multi-person legal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some whom have been intercourse employees, by means of intimidation and narcotics to take part in “freak offs” – generally dayslong intercourse performances that attorneys declare they’ve video of.

In March, prosecutors submitted a second superseding indictment, updating the amended indictment from January that added three unnamed girls who have been allegedly victims of his so-called intercourse trafficking enterprise, which claims Combs subjected staff to pressured labor beneath inhumane circumstances. In a 3rd superseding indictment, prosecutors added two further fees – one rely of intercourse trafficking and one rely of transportation to have interaction in prostitution of “Sufferer-2” – to the earlier three fees in opposition to him. –Anna Kaufman

What’s a RICO cost?

Racketeering is the participation in an unlawful scheme beneath the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a method for the U.S. authorities to prosecute organizations contributing to legal exercise.

Per Combs’ indictment, prosecutors say his racketeering exercise included “a number of acts of kidnapping,” arson, bribery, witness tampering, pressured labor, intercourse trafficking, transportation for the needs of prostitution and distribution of narcotics. –Anna Kaufman

How is Cassie concerned?

Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a civil lawsuit in November 2023 that’s broadly seen because the match that lit the flame for the mogul’s present predicament.

She accused her former associate of rape, intercourse trafficking and bodily abuse, a collection of allegations that opened the floodgates to dozens of damning civil complaints accusing the Dangerous Boy Data founder of assorted sexual assaults all through his profession.

Combs and Ventura settled for an undisclosed quantity a day after she filed her swimsuit. –Anna Kaufman

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra, Anika Reed and Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY; Luc Cohen, Reuters