Diddy loses bid to delay intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been unsuccessful in his bid to delay his intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial by two months.
The ruling got here on Friday (April 18) from US district choose Arun Subramanian, who stated that attorneys for the disgraced rap mogul made the request too near the beginning of the trial subsequent month.
As per the present schedule, jury choice is because of begin on Might 5 with opening statements anticipated to be heard every week later.
Combs has pleaded not responsible to 5 legal counts, together with racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. He has constantly denied all allegations towards him and has asserted that each one sexual exercise described by prosecutors was consensual.
He had requested he wanted extra time to answer new prices towards him and to entry emails from one alleged sufferer, however the court docket has dominated decisively towards his plea, arguing that the brand new prices will not be considerably totally different from present ones.
Combs is at the moment being held with out bail in jail in Brooklyn.
His attorneys have additionally filed a movement to exclude video footage displaying him violently attacking ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura from the upcoming trial. Alternatively, they’ve requested the court docket to “allow Mr. Combs to current proof at a pre-trial listening to concerning the unreliability of the prevailing and accessible video proof”.
Over a yr in the past, she accused him of bodily assault and rape and the case was settled the next day, regardless of Diddy denying the claims. Months later, CNN obtained CCTV footage of Diddy dragging, kicking and hitting Ventura in an LA lodge, lending credence to Ventura’s allegations. Diddy later apologised for his “inexcusable” behaviour in a video Ventura’s legal professionals referred to as “disingenuous”.
Elsewhere, a brand new lawsuit was filed towards Diddy earlier this month, accusing him of human trafficking. The allegations have been put ahead by a Florida man referred to as Joseph Manzaro, who alleges that the rapper assaulted and humiliated him at an occasion in 2015, and that he was seen on the night time by Beyoncé, Jay-Z and LeBron James.
Combs’ authorized group denied the claims in a press release to TMZ. “This criticism demonstrates the wicked lengths plaintiffs will journey to garner headlines in pursuit of a payday,” it learn. “No sane particular person studying this criticism may credit score this story. Mr. Combs seems ahead to having his day in court docket the place these lies — and the perverse motives of those that instructed them — will likely be revealed.”
Information of the accusations got here simply days after a separate one among Diddy’s sexual assault lawsuits was dismissed final month.
Claims of intercourse trafficking towards Combs and former chief of employees Kristina Khorramm, in addition to sexual assault and premises legal responsibility claims towards Combs, have been upheld, nonetheless.
An legal professional for Combs stated Jones’ “reckless name-dropping about occasions which might be pure fiction and easily didn’t occur is nothing greater than a clear try to garner headlines”, while Khorram denied all allegations.
For extra assist, recommendation or extra data concerning sexual harassment, assault and rape within the UK, go to the Rape Crisis charity website. Within the US, go to RAINN.