A variety of witnesses have taken to the stand within the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who’s dealing with allegations of racketeering and intercourse trafficking throughout his time as head of an leisure empire.
Testimony within the trial started on Monday after the ultimate section of jury choice and opening assertion from attorneys. Combs, donning a light-grey sweater, gave a thumbs-up to supporters within the courtroom in New York Metropolis in america.
“For 20 years, the defendant, with the assistance of his trusted inside circle, dedicated crime after crime,” Assistant US Legal professional Emily Johnson informed the courtroom. “That’s why we’re right here right now. That’s what this case is about.”
A variety of witnesses testified that they’d skilled bodily violence, intimidation, and manipulation by Combs, whereas the rapper’s attorneys stated that he has been charged with the fallacious classes of crimes and “his kinky intercourse and his preferences for intercourse” have been being portrayed as nefarious.
Legal professional Teny Geragos informed jurors that they might find yourself considering Combs was a “jerk” or “type of imply”, however that he’s not being charged “with being imply or a jerk”.
“This case is about voluntary decisions made by succesful adults in consensual relationships,” Geragos stated throughout her opening assertion.
Johnson, the US legal professional, stated that Combs “viciously attacked” ladies who refused to take part within the events that have been referred to as “freak offs”.
“They’ll inform you about a few of the most painful experiences of their lives. The times they spent in resort rooms, excessive on medication, wearing costumes to carry out the defendant’s sexual fantasies,” Johnson informed jurors of testimony from victims within the case.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson factors to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs earlier than US District Choose Arun Subramanian at Combs’s sex-trafficking trial in New York Metropolis, New York, the US, Could 12, 2025, on this courtroom sketch (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
‘She was shaking’
The courtroom turned audibly silent as a video of Combs beating and kicking his former girlfriend Casandra Ventura in 2016 was proven.
A stripper named Daniel Phillip testified that Combs had thrown a liquor bottle in the direction of Ventura earlier than grabbing her by the hair and dragging her screaming into one other room, the place Phillip says he heard Combs yelling and beating Ventura.
“She actually jumped into my lap and he or she was shaking, like actually her complete total physique was shaking. She was terrified,” Phillip testified of Ventura.
Geragos conceded that Combs is susceptible to jealousy and had dedicated an act of “horrible, dehumanising violence” within the video proven to jurors, however that it was proof of home abuse, not alleged acts of intercourse trafficking or racketeering which might be on the centre of the case.
Prosecutors say that Combs, who faces a compulsory minimal sentence of 15 years in jail if convicted of all 5 felony counts to which he had pleaded not responsible, pushed ladies to interact in drug-fuelled events after which blackmailed them with movies of their encounters.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik questions Israel Florez, a former safety guard, at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s sex-trafficking trial in New York Metropolis, New York, the US, Could 12, 2025 on this courtroom sketch (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Combs’s standing as a high-profile entertainer has introduced substantial consideration to the trial, in addition to bigger debate about how highly effective figures in sectors corresponding to leisure, enterprise, sports activities, and politics usually evade accountability for acts of abuse.
Because the case started, the jury and alternates – 12 males and 6 ladies – have been seated within the courtroom. Opening arguments began after the choose completed explaining the regulation because it pertains to this trial, together with incidentals corresponding to {that a} mild breakfast will probably be supplied to the jury along with lunch.
The jury for this case is basically nameless, which means their identities are recognized to the courtroom and the prosecution and defence, however won’t be made public.
“We’ll maintain your names and identities in confidence,” Subramanian informed jurors.
It’s a standard observe in federal circumstances to maintain juries nameless, significantly in delicate, high-profile issues the place juror security could be a concern. Juror names additionally have been saved from the general public in US President Donald Trump’s legal trial final yr in state courtroom in New York.
Subramanian urged jurors to evaluate the case solely primarily based on the proof introduced in courtroom. It’s an ordinary instruction, however it carried added significance on this high-profile case, which has been the topic of intense media protection.
“Something you’ve seen or heard outdoors the courtroom isn’t proof,” the choose stated. “It should be disregarded.”
