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NEW YORK (AP):
The sixth week of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ sex trafficking trial was shortened by a holiday and a juror's illness as prosecutors nearly concluded their case.
In the trial's first five weeks, jurors repeatedly heard testimony about drug-fuelled marathon sex events described as “freak-offs” by one of Combs' ex-girlfriends and as “hotel nights” by another. In the sixth week, they were shown about 20 minutes of video recordings from the days-long events.
Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in the trial, which continues today. Here are key moments from the past week:
Jurors watch videos of ‘freak-off’ sex marathons
Jurors largely kept their reactions muted when they were shown about 20 minutes of recordings made by Combs of his then-girlfriends having sex with male sex workers at the elaborately staged “freak-offs” or “hotel nights".
Prosecutors say the events were proof of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges because Combs coerced his employees, associates and even his girlfriends to recruit and arrange flights for sex workers while his workers obtained drugs, stocked hotel rooms with baby oil, lubricant, condoms, candles and liquor and delivered cash.
In her opening statement, defence lawyer Teny Geragos had called the videos “powerful evidence that the sexual conduct in this case was consensual and not based on coercion".
Juror ejected
Judge Arun Subramanian started the week by dismissing a juror whose conflicting answers about whether he lived in New Jersey or New York convinced the judge he was a threat to the integrity of the trial.
Subramanian said the juror's answers during jury selection and in the week before he was excused “raised serious concerns as to the juror’s candour".
Residents of New Jersey would not be permitted to sit on a New York federal jury.
And Wednesday's court session had to be cancelled after a juror reported "vertigo symptoms" on the way to the courthouse.
Defence lawyer makes prediction
Defence attorney Marc Agnifilo seemed to close the door on any chance Combs would testify when he said Friday that the defence presentation would be finished Tuesday or Wednesday, even if prosecutors don't rest until late Monday.
It is not uncommon for defendants to choose not to testify at criminal trials. Besides being exposed to cross-examination by prosecutors, the testimony can be used by the government against the defendant should there be a need for a retrial.
Former Combs' employee requires immunity to testify
Brendan Paul, fresh off the college basketball courts where he once played in a cameo role for Syracuse University, joined Combs' companies as a personal assistant in late 2022 and was warned by a friend who had worked for Combs about what was ahead.
“He told me to get in and get out,” Paul recalled for the jury. “If you have a girlfriend, break up with her. And you’re never going to see your family."
Paul said he worked 80 to 100 hours a week and was paid $75,000 salary initially, but it was raised in January 2024 to $100,000.
Several times, Paul said, he picked up drugs for Combs and knew to keep his boss out of the drug trade because “it was very important to keep his profile low. He's a celebrity".
In March 2024, Paul was arrested at a Miami airport on drug charges after a small amount of cocaine that he said he picked up in Combs' room that morning was mistakenly put in his travel bag as he prepared to join Combs on a trip to the Bahamas. The charges were later dropped in a pretrial diversion programme.
Paul said he hadn't seen Combs since.
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