The final stage of the jury selection for Sean “Diddy” Combs' sex trafficking trial was postponed until early next week, before an opening debate on concerns that he might get a “cold foot” before the prominent case begins.
Prosecutors argue that Diddy, 55, used his fame and power at the top of the hip-hop world to sexually abuse women between 2004 and 2024. He pleaded not guilty after his arrest in September and was taken into custody without bail in a federal lockup in Brooklyn.
Judge Arun Subramanian granted the defense attorney's request to delay the final step in ju umpire selection until Monday, May 12th narrowed down the pool of two-way potential ju umpires to 12 and 6 alternatives.
Subramanian expressed concern that if a ju judge is selected before the weekend, they could be uneasy before the trial begins Monday and would be able to lower the panel.
The decision came after a potential ju-search sent an email to ask the court to leave the panel due to “personal happiness issues,” the defense revealed.
The defense said an astonishing ju umpire could take just 10-15 minutes, so don't do that when they are present on Monday. The ju umpire didn't need to be in the Manhattan courtroom on Friday, but Diddy was there.
Prosecutors said that panic after several ju judges have been selected could hinder the entire process, and decided they didn't want to take part in a famous trial that is expected to last for two months.
Potential ju judges were questioned earlier this week to help judges and lawyers determine whether they are fair and impartial. They were also asked to allow decisions on the facts to be made – even after seeing an explicit video of sexual activity that some might get in the way.
On May 12th, the prosecutor is allowed by the ju apprentice to attack six future ju apprentices, and the defense attorney is allowed to 10 strikes before the ju apprentice is finalized. This process is expected to take an hour.
According to NBC News, Diddy's lead lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told Subramanian Friday that Diddy committed “domestic violence” with one of the accusers expected to testify at trial.
Marc Agnifilo, an attorney for Sean 'Diddy' Combs, will speak to members of the media outside the courtroom in New York, New York on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
Youwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Agnifilo said the defense team plans to “take a position of mutual violence” in relation to the accuser identified as “victim 1” in the accusation.
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Diddy's lawyer said his team is planning to argue that, according to the outlet, “clashed on both sides and there were actions on both sides” that constitute the violence.
“It's related in terms of coercive aspects, and we acknowledge domestic violence,” Agnifilo told the judge.
Prosecutors also revealed on Friday that they were unable to contact the accused, or who was identified as victim 3, in their indictment or her attorney.
US lawyer Aide Molen Comey said her team had a “final answer” right away.
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Diddy faces charges that include an explanation of “freak off.” This is defined as “freak off” as “a sex performance that elaborates on sex performances where combs are placed, directed, masturbated, and often electronically recorded.”
Prosecutors say many witnesses are moving forward to accuse Didi of silence people by suffocating, colliding, kicking and dragging them, prosecuting them. One indictment alleges Diddy hangs someone from the balcony.
Dozens of men and women have allegedly abusing them in lawsuits, but the trial will highlight the four women's claims.
One of them is R&B singer Cassie Ventura, Diddy's ex-girlfriend. The rapper was caught on camera in 2016 by slamming and dragging the hallways of a Los Angeles hotel.
After CNN aired the video last year, Diddy apologized, saying, “I'm fully responsible for my actions in that video. When I did it, I was tired of it. I was tired of it now.”
Ventura filed a lawsuit in late 2023, claiming that she had made her submit to years of abuse, including beating and rape after meeting in 2005.
Her lawsuit, which provided the first public account of “Freak Off” mentioned in the indictment, was resolved in one day. Four months later, federal agents stormed Diddy's homes in Los Angeles and Miami, confronting him at a private Florida airport and seized 96 electronic devices. They also found three AR-15 style rifles with damaged serial numbers.
Diddy was indicted last September. He was taken into custody in federal prison in Brooklyn after a judge ruled that if released it would pose a threat to witnesses and victims.
The 17-page indictment against Diddy accused the employee of using his or her crimes to promote his crimes through acts that include luring, arson and bribery.
Diddy is charged with conspiracy to commit to prostitution, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transport. If he is convicted of all numbers, he could remain behind the bar for the rest of his life.
Didi continues to deny all the accusations the government has brought against him since his arrest in September 2024.
– Use files from Associated Press
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