Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ legal team have requested a mistrial of his case as he currently remains on trial for charges including racketeering and sex trafficking by force
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ legal team have requested a mistrial after the end of week three’s proceedings.
The music mogul, 55, is currently on trial in New York after pleading not guilty to charges including racketeering and sex trafficking by force. Now, his lawyers have made a second attempt to have proceedings declared invalid, claiming “prosecutorial misconduct”.
In a letter sent to Judge Arun Subramanian on Saturday, June 7, the defence allege “the government has presented testimony that it knew or should have known was materially false related to its allegation that Mr. Combs dangled Bryana Bongolan from the balcony of Cassie Ventura’s apartment in September 2016.”
The note, which was seen by PEOPLE, went on: “Accordingly, to avoid an unfair conviction in this case the Court should grant a mistrial.”
The Bad Boy Records founder’s team also argued his ex-girlfriend Cassie’s testimony, in which she claimed to have witnessed the musician dangle Bryana from a balcony, was “demonstrably false”. They said this was due to text messages allegedly showing she only learned of the supposed incident afterwards.
The letter continued to argue: “The incident, as alleged, is disturbing and powerful evidence, and the government has used it to depict Mr. Combs in an extremely negative light, as an angry and dangerous man who terrified Ms. Ventura and her friends.”
The lawyers also argued the prosecution presented photos of Bryana’s alleged injuries from the incident, which were said to have been taken on 26 September 2016 in Los Angeles, even though “the government has long known” Combs was in New York City between 24-29 September that year.
The defence also claimed the prosecution “repeatedly attempted to disrupt” their line of questioning when they tried to “expose the perjury upon cross-examination.”
“All of this was highly improper and exacerbated the harm caused by […] the perjured testimony,” the letter continued. “The balcony incident is just one example of prosecutorial misconduct during this trial.”
At the end of May Combs’ lawyers requested a mistrial after prosecutors asked Lance Jiminez, an arson investigator from the Los Angeles Fire Department, if fingerprint evidence related to the bombing of Kid Cudi’s car had been destroyed and who could have authorised the decision.
At the time, the rapper’s lawyers argued the line of questioning could potentially hint that their client was able to buy his way out of trouble. However, the judge denied this appeal and said the questions were not prejudicial to the case.
The case is set to continue on Monday. Combs’ ex, who took to the stand under a pseudonym, is continuing with her testimony.
The case is expected to last six weeks.
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