Sean “Diddy” Combs has committed “domestic violence” in his relationship with one of the accusers who should testify during his sexual trafficking trial, the principal lawyer of the hip-hop magnate to a federal judge on Friday.
In a notable remark during the jury’s selection process, Combres lawyer Marc AGINFILO, said the defense team was planning to “take the position that there was mutual violence” in the rapper’s relationship with an accuser identified in the indictment of prosecutors as a victim-1.
Agnifilo said that his team intended to assert that “on both sides there were behaviors on both sides” which constituted violence. “He is relevant in terms of coercive aspects, we admit domestic violence, “Agnifilo told judge Arun Subramanian.
The remark adds a new layer to the defense of Combs. He pleaded not guilty to five criminal counts, including a racket conspiracy chief and two charges of sexual traffic by force, fraud or coercion. He also denied charges of sexual abuse, his lawyers arguing that his accusers have agreed to all sexual activities.
The victim-1 is not identified in the indictment of the accusation, but his allegations closely reflect those of the singer R&B Casandra Ventura, one of the ex-girlfriends of Combs. Ventura, known as the Cassie scene, accused combed rape and physical violence in a civil prosecution filed in November 2023.
The trial was settled in private in one day without combs admitting reprehensible acts.
Ventura’s allegations attracted greater national attention after CNN broadcast a hotel surveillance video, recorded in 2016, showing combing comb, kicks and Ventura trail.
Subramanian ruled that the video can be shown during the trial as proof. Combat lawyers tried to have it excluded, arguing that it was “completely inaccurate” and modified – CNN claims have denyed strongly.
Combs apologized publicly after the release of the video, claiming that his behavior was “inexcusable” and that he took full responsibility for his actions.
Friday, in a separate development, Subramanian decided to push the last stage of the selection of the jury next week, expressing their concern that the people of the panel can obtain “cold feet” before the start of the opening declarations.
The decision was made after a potential juror sent an email to the court asking to be excluded from the panel for “personal well-being issues,” the defense team said.
SUBRAMANIAN gave a request from Combs lawyers to delay until Monday morning the part of the process which allows lawyers to eliminate potential jurors. The defense team will be authorized to “strike” 10 potential jurors and prosecutors six.
When the last pool of 12 jurors and six alternates is selected, Subramanian provides instructions, and then renders the lawyer for the opening declarations.
Prosecutors said they were planning to start with two witnesses who will give a short testimony, followed by a key witness that will take most of the week.
The American deputy prosecutor Maurene Comey confirmed on Friday that the prosecutors had still not managed to come into contact with the accuser identified in the indictment as a victim-3, or his lawyer.
Comey said his team will soon have a “final response” to find out if they finally call the victim-3 at the stand.
