Closing arguments in the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs criminal trial are expected to begin on Thursday, after defence lawyers indicated they do not plan to call any witnesses, meaning they will only need a couple of days to present the musician’s defence.
The prosecution were due to finish their arguments against Combs today, after yesterday showing jurors 20 minutes of video footage from the so called ‘freak offs’ that have been central to this case.
Combs is fighting charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, accused of using his music and entertainment business as a criminal enterprise to facilitate and cover up the sexual and physical abuse of both men and women.
Jurors have now seen nearly 40 minutes of footage recorded at the freak offs, where Combs orchestrated and filmed sexual acts between girlfriends and male sex workers.
The fact these freak offs occurred is not disputed, but Combs’ lawyers argue that they were consensual. Both the prosecution and the defence have now shared videos and text messages in court that document this activity, the defence believing that the evidence shows that participants in the freak offs consented, while the prosecution believes it proves the opposite.
Jurors saw eighteen minutes of freak off footage featuring Combs’ ex-partner Cassie Ventura last week, presented by the defence, and then an additional 20 minutes yesterday shown by the prosecution.
The latter featured the other alleged victim who has testified during the trial, referred to in court as Jane. With the videos described by lawyers as “explicit”, jurors put on headphones when viewing the content and screens visible elsewhere in the courtroom were turned off.
As well as seeking to convince jurors that Ventura, Jane and others were not willing participants in the freak offs, the prosecution also needs to demonstrate that Combs used his entertainment business to facilitate and cover up his alleged crimes in order to secure the conviction for racketeering.
One of the final witnesses called by the prosecution was Brendan Paul, a former assistant of Combs. He testified that he regularly bought and transported drugs for his employer, including those given to women taking part in the freak offs to allow them to “disassociate” from the ordeal.
Paul also told the court that another part of his role was to set up hotel rooms used for the freak offs, while adding that Combs expected his assistants to “move like SEAL Team Six” and anticipate his every need.
Combs is not expected to take to the witness stand himself, with the defence simply presenting evidence to the court rather than questioning anybody. Summing up should then take place on Thursday and Friday before the jury begin their deliberations.