Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Defence deny running “racketeering enterprise” and say his businesses are “lawful”
During the opening statement of Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs trial, his attorney Mark Geragos denied claims that the music mogul was involved in any criminal endeavours and defended his business ventures as “lawful”.
Prosecutor Emily A Johnson began proceedings in Manhattan on May 12th with her opening statement, which alleged “there was another side” to Combs that the public didn’t see. She then elaborated by stating, “A side that ran a criminal enterprise.”
Johnson added: “During this trial you are going to hear about 20 years of the defendant’s crimes. But he didn’t do it alone. He had an inner circle of bodyguards and high-ranking employees who helped him commit crimes and helped him cover them up.”
Following the conclusion of the prosecution’s opening statement, Combs’ attorney Teny Geragos took to the stand and described her client as “larger-than-life figure” who earned his money legally and in an above board manner, adding, “No one gave him a dime.”
Garagos also said: “This case is about Sean Combs’s private, personal sex life which has nothing to do with his lawful businesses.”
While, according to the New York Times, Combs’ defence said that he has violent tendencies and a history of drug taking, they deny he is guilty of the crimes that he’s been accused of committing.
The attorney said, “Where you think he is a jerk, he is mean. But he is not charged with being mean. He is not charged with being a jerk. He is charged with running a racketeering enterprise.”
Garagos again reiterated that Combs isn’t a perfect person, but also reiterated that it doesn’t make him a criminal, adding, “The evidence is going to show you a very flawed individual, but it will not show you a racketeer, a sex trafficker or somebody transporting for prostitution.”
Combs is charged with five counts of sex trafficking, racketeering, and sexual abuse of a number of both men and women. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies all criminal wrongdoing.
The trial is set to continue on May 13th.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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