Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ attorneys level to Cassie’s loving texts in trial protection

Combs stated to drive girlfriends into sexual performances

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Defense referred to as “Freak Offs” consensual, cites accuser

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Closing arguments anticipated on Thursday

By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK, – Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorneys spent a half-hour on Tuesday placing on their protection case at their shopper’s intercourse trafficking trial, paving the way in which for jurors to listen to remaining arguments earlier than weighing the hip-hop mogul’s destiny.

The protection included exhibiting jurors textual content messages during which one among Combs’ accusers, rhythm and blues singer Casandra Ventura, stated she beloved him and urged she loved taking part in sexual performances referred to as “Freak Offs.”

Federal prosecutors rested their case towards 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 have interaction in prostitution. He determined to not testify.

Defendants in U.S. felony instances will not be required to current proof, and judges instruct juries to not maintain a refusal to testify towards defendants. To win a responsible verdict, prosecutors should show their instances past an inexpensive doubt.

The authorities’s case towards Combs included accusations that the Bad Boy Records founder pressured two former girlfriends into sexual performances with male intercourse staff whereas he watched, masturbated and generally filmed.

Witnesses included the previous girlfriends Ventura, referred to as Cassie, and a girl identified in courtroom by the pseudonym Jane.

Over a number of days of testimony, each stated Combs beat them, threatened to chop off monetary assist, and threatened to leak intercourse tapes.

Combs’ attorneys have acknowledged that their shopper was sometimes 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 one message from 2012, Ventura wrote Combs, “Besides making love, talking to you is my favorite thing.”

Five years later, Ventura instructed Combs in a collection of messages that she missed him, requested him to ship an image of his genitals, and pledged to “be your little freak.”

Outside the jury’s presence, Estevao instructed the courtroom the messages confirmed Combs believed the “Freak Offs” have been consensual.

“That she’s telling Mr. Combs that she will be his little freak is probative as to his state of mind as to whether or not she was willing to engage in this kind of sexual activity,” Estevao stated.

One prosecution witness, forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes, had instructed jurors that victims of sexual violence usually develop “trauma bonds” with their companions, making it tough to depart abusive relationships.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who has overseen the trial in Manhattan federal courtroom, is predicted on Wednesday to fulfill with attorneys 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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