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Combs mentioned to power girlfriends into sexual performances
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Protection known as “Freak Offs” consensual, cites accuser
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Closing arguments anticipated on Thursday
By Luc Cohen
NEW YORK, – Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal professionals spent a half-hour on Tuesday placing on their protection case at their consumer’s intercourse trafficking trial, paving the way in which for jurors to listen to ultimate arguments earlier than weighing the hip-hop mogul’s destiny.
The protection included exhibiting jurors textual content messages by which one among Combs’ accusers, rhythm and blues singer Casandra Ventura, mentioned she liked him and urged she loved taking part in sexual performances often known as “Freak Offs.”
Federal prosecutors rested their case in opposition to Combs earlier within the day, after greater than six weeks of testimony.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to 5 counts of racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking and transportation to interact in prostitution. He determined to not testify.
Defendants in U.S. felony circumstances usually are not required to current proof, and judges instruct juries to not maintain a refusal to testify in opposition to defendants. To win a responsible verdict, prosecutors should show their circumstances past an inexpensive doubt.
The federal government’s case in opposition to Combs included accusations that the Dangerous Boy Information founder compelled two former girlfriends into sexual performances with male intercourse staff whereas he watched, masturbated and generally filmed.
Witnesses included the previous girlfriends Ventura, often known as Cassie, and a girl identified in court docket by the pseudonym Jane.
Over a number of days of testimony, each mentioned Combs beat them, threatened to chop off monetary help, and threatened to leak intercourse tapes.
Combs’ legal professionals have acknowledged that their consumer was often violent in home relationships, however argued the “Freak Offs” have been consensual.
On Tuesday, protection lawyer Anna Estevao learn jurors a number of messages, starting from tender to sexually express, that Ventura despatched Combs throughout their decade-long relationship.
In a single message from 2012, Ventura wrote Combs, “In addition to making love, speaking to you is my favourite factor.”
5 years later, Ventura informed Combs in a sequence of messages that she missed him, requested him to ship an image of his genitals, and pledged to “be your little freak.”
Outdoors the jury’s presence, Estevao informed the court docket the messages confirmed Combs believed the “Freak Offs” have been consensual.
“That she’s telling Mr. Combs that she shall be his little freak is probative as to his way of thinking as as to whether or not she was prepared to interact in this sort of sexual exercise,” Estevao mentioned.
One prosecution witness, forensic psychologist Daybreak Hughes, had informed jurors that victims of sexual violence typically develop “trauma bonds” with their companions, making it troublesome to depart abusive relationships.
U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian, who has overseen the trial in Manhattan federal court docket, is anticipated on Wednesday to fulfill with legal professionals to debate jury directions.
Closing arguments are anticipated to start on Thursday, and the jury could not start deliberating till late Friday or Monday.
If convicted on all 5 counts, Combs faces a compulsory 15-year jail sentence and will face life behind bars.
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