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On the listening to, protection lawyer Alexandra Shapiro characterizes Combs’ conduct throughout days-long, drug-fueled intercourse marathons generally referred to as Freak Offs as ‘business voyeurism’
NEW YORK, USA – Sean “Diddy” Combs’ “business voyeurism” doesn’t qualify as prostitution, his protection lawyer argued on Thursday in urging a choose to put aside a jury’s verdict discovering the hip-hop mogul responsible on prostitution expenses.
Combs, 55, faces as much as 20 years in jail if the July 2 conviction stands. Jurors discovered he paid male escorts to journey throughout state traces to have intercourse along with his girlfriends whereas he filmed and masturbated, however cleared him of extra severe counts of intercourse trafficking and racketeering.
He had pleaded not responsible to the entire expenses, which may have landed him in jail for all times.
US District Choose Arun Subramanian, who’s overseeing the case, didn’t rule on Combs’ movement at Thursday’s listening to, however mentioned he would difficulty a choice “very quickly.”
On the listening to, protection lawyer Alexandra Shapiro characterised Combs’ conduct throughout days-long, drug-fueled intercourse marathons generally referred to as Freak Offs as “business voyeurism.”
She mentioned the regulation criminalizing transportation to have interaction in prostitution ought to be utilized solely to individuals who themselves took half in sexual exercise, or to folks earning profits off the prostitutes.
“The statute ought to be construed narrowly primarily to solely apply to pimping,” Shapiro mentioned.
Meredith Foster, a prosecutor with the Manhattan US Lawyer’s workplace, mentioned Combs needn’t have personally taken half within the intercourse acts to be convicted, since he helped prepare for the male escorts to journey.
Trial centered on Freak Offs
Combs, the founding father of Dangerous Boy Information, is credited with elevating hip-hop in American tradition. He was arrested on intercourse trafficking expenses on September 16, 2024, and has since been held on the Metropolitan Detention Middle in Brooklyn.
As he entered Subramanian’s courtroom, Combs smiled, hugged his legal professionals, and waved at his household seated within the viewers.
Throughout his two-month trial earlier this yr, prosecutors mentioned he coerced two former girlfriends into the sexual performances.
Each girls – rhythm and blues singer Casandra Ventura, referred to as Cassie, and a girl recognized by the pseudonym Jane – testified that Combs bodily attacked them and threatened to chop off monetary assist in the event that they refused to take part within the intercourse performances.
Combs’ legal professionals acknowledged the bodily assaults, however argued there was no direct hyperlink between what they known as home violence and the ladies’s participation within the Freak Offs.
Additionally they mentioned Ventura and Jane consented to the encounters as a result of they cherished Combs and wished to make him pleased.
At Thursday’s listening to, Shapiro mentioned the federal government shouldn’t be criminalizing sexual exercise between consenting adults.
“What we’re left with is a case about adults who traveled interstate and took part in a threesome,” she mentioned.
Christy Slavik, a prosecutor, mentioned the proof at trial confirmed there have been “secondary results” of prostitution regardless that the conduct befell behind closed doorways.
“Ms. Ventura was getting punched within the face. Jane was getting hit and kicked. The defendant was offering medicine to all events,” Slavik mentioned.
Combs seeks quick sentence
Combs is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, ought to Subramanian uphold his conviction.
In a courtroom submitting earlier this week, his legal professionals recommended a 14-month sentence. That will see him launched quickly, as he can be credited for the time he has already spent in jail.
Prosecutors are attributable to file their very own sentencing advice on September 29. – Rappler.com
