Date for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial sets as the embattled Hip Hop legend sets to learn his fate amid ongoing sex trafficking case.
In recent times, the media have been thrown into a frenzy and shock by Diddy’s racketeering enterprise involving forced-on or induced sex trafficking, forced labour or kidnapping, and arson, among others, as the charges read.
It has been learned that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial will begin on 5th May 2025, as it was announced yesterday, Thursday, 10th October 2024, by the judge.
As it stands, everything connected to the trial will stand still pending the commencement of the case in the court.
The trial is said to run for a month, but findings disclosed it could be lengthier if more exhibits and charges were added.
Allegations have been made that Combs, who is charged with sex trafficking, illicit transportation of prostitutes and racketeering conspiracy.
Last month, according to the indictment released which stated that Combs runs an illegitimate business that promotes sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, and arson, among other crimes.
According to Emily Johnson, a prosecutor, “Our investigation is very much ongoing.
“The possibility of a superseding indictment could affect the length of the trial,” she added.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Was Denied Bail Again
Sean Combs has been denied bail on several occasions following after federal court of appeal rebuffed his bail application through his attorney, and is set to remain behind bars while further investigation into his sex trafficking is ongoing.
However, in the coming days, the judicial panel is said to look into his bail application if he eventually deserves to be released considering the conditions included in his bail offer of a $50 million bond, restriction on visitors and supervision by private security guards.
Yesterday, Thursday, 10th October 2024, Combs made an appearance in court in his crested jail uniform without handcuffs but shackles on his ankles.
He was so happy to see familiar faces and be in the public.
He had his attorney’s warm embrace and gestured hand wave to his mother and sons as he made his way into the courtroom.
About one hundred electronic devices have been confiscated by federal authorities and still working to exhume data from them as revealed by prosecutors.
Fifty-one devices were collected from Combs in his Los Angeles mansion amid a raid in March, 36 devices from his Miami estate on the same day and nine while he was at a private airport in Florida.
Afterwards, during the night of Combs’ arrest, the authorities seized three additional devices after a search of his Manhattan hotel room.
Johnson stated, “The government’s ability to decrypt those devices is constantly evolving.”
She also revealed that on the same day, 25th March 2024, the authorities raided Combs’ home, and they subpoenaed Combs’ company, Combs Global. The record company is still producing records.
Prosecutors Deny Leaking Hotel Footage of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Hitting Cassie Ventura
During the hearing yesterday, Combs was heard accusing the federal agents and prosecutors of illegally leaking the hotel security footage depicting him having an altercation and attacking Cassandra Ventura, his former girlfriend, at a Los Angeles Hotel in 2016.
CNN collected the footage from the hotel in May and Diddy did not deny its authenticity by acknowledging it to be true and apologised for his rash behaviour.
However, addressing the issue, the prosecutors, in a letter to the judge, refuted the claim that they leaked the video and already made their case known that they did neither obtain the footage through the grand jury nor trust that the Homeland Security Investigation if before CNN aired it.
The Prosecutors wrote, “The Government did not have the video before its publication by CNN. Indeed, at the time of CNN’s publication, the Government did not possess any video of the March 2016 incident.”
Yesterday, in the courtroom, reacting to Combs’ accusation, the judge ordered the protective imposition on the grand jury and nonpublic materials.
“The concern is the agents have been leaking grand jury information,” defence attorney Marc Agnifilo said.
Prosecutors labelled that accusation “baseless” and said it was a deliberate ploy by the defence counsel “to exclude a damning piece of evidence” from the trial.
“Not a single one of those alleged leaks is from the prosecution team,” Johnson said.
Photo Credit: Billboard
Johnson berated Agnifilo for his statement to TMZ that Combs is being trialled because of his colour (Black).
“He baselessly accused the government of engaging in a racist prosecution,” Johnson said.
Acceding to Agnifilo’s claim, Diddy was spotted nodding his head in agreement.
Johnson tagged the defence claim “serious risk for a fair trial.”
She then stated that the defence has made Combs’ bail application more complex and could impede the previous arrangement of moving Combs from federal lockup in Brooklyn to another jail in Essex County, New Jersey.
“We’re making a go of the MDC,” Agnifilo said, referring to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
“MDC has been responsive with us,” he added.
A moment was allotted to Comb before being aided out of the courtroom, turning towards his family.
He saw his mother and the family, and blew a kiss with his head lowered as a sign of respect together depicting that prayer is needed.
A gesture was made by one of his children, flexing his arm, reminding the father to remain strong as ever.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/10/entertainment/sean-diddy-combs-trial-date/
Date For Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial Sets