Inner life of one of hip hop’s biggest stars on display in this trialpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time
Nada Tawfik
New York correspondent
This Manhattan courthouse has pulled back the curtain on the private life of one of hip hop’s biggest icons.
The mogul and producer admits that he beat his partners – had a drug problem – and that he enjoyed so-called “freak offs” – or prolonged sexual encounters between his girlfriends and male prostitutes.
But Sean “Diddy” Combs insists the sex was consensual. So is he guilty of running a criminal enterprise and sex trafficking?
The jury will need to weigh the evidence to decide if he’s just a flawed individual being unfairly targeted by overzealous prosecutors and women after money. Or if he’s someone who used his vast wealth, power and influence to manipulate, trap and force women to fulfil his sexual desires.
There’s video and photo evidence – text messages – hotel and financial records – flight logs. But ultimately this case hinges on who the jury believes.
Cassie Ventura and Jane spoke in harrowing detail about the physical toll the “freak offs” and drugs took on their bodies – how Diddy controlled every aspect of their life – and his threats including blackmail.
Diddy didn’t testify and jurors can’t hold that against him, because the burden is on the government to prove its case. But his lawyers said the women were free to leave at any time – and when they did – nothing happened.
The defence claimed the women were just as enthusiastic about the “swinger” lifestyle. So – was there a power imbalance? Was every “freak off” consensual – or did they eventually turn into sex trafficking when the women told him they didn’t want to do them anymore?
Those are all important questions in this case.
Here’s what the jury in Diddy’s sex trafficking trial is considering
