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Diddy was again in courtroom Thursday for an additional listening to forward of his federal trial, which is ready to start Monday.
Even if he’s dealing with life behind bars if convicted, the music mogul — whose actual identify is Sean Combs — formally rejected a plea deal throughout as we speak’s look in entrance of the choose.
Prosecutors made their provide forward of the listening to, so the precise phrases are unclear.
However as we speak, Combs formally declared that he wouldn’t be accepting the deal, which might’ve possible led to a a lot shorter sentence.
Sean Combs attends the ‘Killing Them Softly’ Premiere throughout sixty fifth Annual Cannes Movie Pageant at Palais des Festivals on Might 22, 2012 in Cannes, France. (Picture by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Photos)
Combs was arrested final 12 months on rape and intercourse trafficking fees. He’s been behind bars ever since after a number of bail requests have been denied.
The rapper requested for a delay to his Might 5 trial within the hope of permitting his authorized crew extra time to arrange, however that request was additionally denied.
Sean “Diddy” Combs attends TimesTalks Presents: An Night with Sean “Diddy” Combs at The New Faculty on September 20, 2017 in New York Metropolis. (Picture by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Photos)
The rejection of the plea deal is likely to be a sign that Combs is optimistic about his possibilities of being acquitted.
Nevertheless it’s equally potential that the deal provided by prosecutors would have required a number of a long time behind bars, and Combs was merely unwilling to pay that value.
Jury choice is ready to begin on Monday, with opening arguments scheduled for Might 12.
At the moment’s listening to was a short however contentious one, as attorneys for Combs lashed out in regards to the conduct of opposing counsel.
Diddy performs onstage in the course of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Middle on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Picture by Noam Galai/Getty Photos for MTV)
Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos raised considerations about public feedback made by Lisa Bloom, an lawyer who’s representing two of Diddy’s alleged victims in civil trials.
“We’re concerned with her behavior here,” mentioned Geragos.
What’s subsequent for Diddy?
With greater than 20 witnesses set to testify, prosecutors appear fairly sure of their case in opposition to Diddy. And if he’s convicted, it’s most unlikely that he’ll ever stroll free.
The racketeering conspiracy cost in opposition to Combs carries a most sentence of life in jail by itself.
The intercourse trafficking cost carries a compulsory minimal sentence of 15 years in jail and as a lot as a life sentence.
We’ll have additional updates on this growing story as new data turns into accessible.
