Sean 'Diddy' Combs' workforce ends their defence after solely 20 minutes

[ad_1] Madeline Halpert BBC Information in New York courtroom

Watch: The BBC's Nada Tawfik explains how prosecutors went after Diddy in his intercourse trafficking trial

Sean "Diddy" Combs' authorized workforce rested their case in his intercourse trafficking trial on Tuesday after making arguments for less than about 20 minutes.

Their brief presentation adopted practically seven weeks of arguments and witness testimony introduced by federal prosecutors in New York. The prosecution completed making their case Tuesday afternoon.

His defence attorneys argued that the federal government has failed to satisfy the burden in proving any of the costs in opposition to him, which he is vehemently denied, and the choose ought to drop the case in opposition to him.

Mr Combs additionally confirmed to the courtroom that he wouldn't take the stand in his personal trial. "It is my choice with my legal professionals" to not testify, he instructed the choose.

Mr Combs has pleaded not responsible to prices of intercourse trafficking, racketeering and transportation to interact in prostitution. He faces as much as life in jail if convicted within the scheme.

Talking for the primary time in courtroom in weeks on Tuesday, Mr Combs instructed Choose Arun Subramanian that he was "doing a superb job".

"I wish to inform you thanks," the rapper instructed the choose.

Prosecutors have alleged Mr Combs used his celebratory standing and enterprise empire to run a felony enterprise to intercourse site visitors girls and conceal his crimes. Throughout their arguments, the federal government referred to as greater than 30 witnesses to the stand.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/c44e/live/5cc3edf0-513b-11f0-9a23-63d5c7976c23.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/c44e/live/5cc3edf0-513b-11f0-9a23-63d5c7976c23.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c44e/live/5cc3edf0-513b-11f0-9a23-63d5c7976c23.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/c44e/live/5cc3edf0-513b-11f0-9a23-63d5c7976c23.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/c44e/live/5cc3edf0-513b-11f0-9a23-63d5c7976c23.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/c44e/live/5cc3edf0-513b-11f0-9a23-63d5c7976c23.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/c44e/live/5cc3edf0-513b-11f0-9a23-63d5c7976c23.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c44e/live/5cc3edf0-513b-11f0-9a23-63d5c7976c23.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters Sean "Diddy" Combs waves to family in a court sketch" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Mr Combs spoke in courtroom within the first time in weeks to say he wouldn't testify

The defence referred to as none, as a substitute submitting into proof a number of textual content messages between Mr Combs and his ex-girlfriends, singer Casandra Ventura, and one other sufferer who testified below the pseudonym Jane.

It's at all times tough for defence groups to determine whether or not to name any reality witnesses to the stand, stated Mitchell Epner, a New York-based lawyer and former prosecutor.

Calling new witnesses can introduce extra issues for the defence - and having Mr Combs take the stand would have been a fair riskier transfer, hanging the case totally on his testimony, Mr Epner stated.

As a substitute, Mr Combs' legal professionals gave a fast presentation, exhibiting messages in an try and bolster their argument that Mr Combs' girlfriends had been keen contributors in sexual encounters with him and male escorts, which had been referred to as freak-offs.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0030/live/cae44970-5144-11f0-b4be-8f7caf53b80c.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0030/live/cae44970-5144-11f0-b4be-8f7caf53b80c.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0030/live/cae44970-5144-11f0-b4be-8f7caf53b80c.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0030/live/cae44970-5144-11f0-b4be-8f7caf53b80c.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0030/live/cae44970-5144-11f0-b4be-8f7caf53b80c.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0030/live/cae44970-5144-11f0-b4be-8f7caf53b80c.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0030/live/cae44970-5144-11f0-b4be-8f7caf53b80c.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0030/live/cae44970-5144-11f0-b4be-8f7caf53b80c.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="a banner shows Sean "Diddy" Combs and reads "Diddy on trial" " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> In a single textual content message to Mr Combs that his attorneys learn aloud, Jane instructed him "I at all times have enjoyable" throughout their freak-offs, or what she referred to as "lodge nights".

The short defence case got here after Mr Combs' authorized workforce filed a movement asking the courtroom to acquit their consumer, claiming the federal government had not met their burden in proving any of the costs, together with intercourse trafficking and racketeering.

His legal professional Alexandra Shapiro argued that the victims within the case had been succesful girls who may have left on their very own accord, giving a touch of the factors the authorized workforce is prone to current throughout closing arguments scheduled later this week on Thursday and Friday.