After Sean Combs’ lawyers informed the court that they would not call witnesses, The defense in the sex trade and blackmail process against the music mogul on Tuesday only took about 25 minutes.
Defense surprisingly short
Instead of calling someone to the witness stand, the defense team read a number of text messages between Combs and his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who referred to certain “freak-offs” in the ten-year relationship of the couple. In this news, Ventura expressed her love for hip-hop mogul and apparently revealed her enthusiasm about aspects of her sex life. “I think as long as we continue to communicate, faithful, honest, real and above all nice to each other,” Ventura wrote to Combs at the end of May 2017, “we can keep it sexy and try out new things because this trust will be there.”
The defense was remarkably short, considering that Combs threatens lifelong crimes in prison when the five crime plants raised against him. The 55-year-old, who is actively involved in his defense, advocated not guilty about conspiracy for blackmail, sex trade with Ventura and another ex-girlfriend as well as transport to prostitution.
Before presenting the defense, US district judge Arun Subramanian Combs asked whether it was his decision not to testify. Combs stood upright, praised the judge for his “excellent work” during the procedure and replied with a slightly rougher voice that he had been informed about his rights and, after a sufficient consideration, decided against a statement. “This is only my decision,” he said and nodded violently. “It is my decision together with my lawyers.”
Strategy without your own witnesses
In the course of the procedure, Combs’ main attorney Marc Agnifilo had given very different estimates about the duration of the defense. After the public prosecutor’s office reduced her list of witnesses, Agnifilo said that the defense could need up to two weeks. He later called two to five days. Then on Monday the surprise: the defense will not call witnesses and only introduce evidence. It is not unusual if the defense does not bring its own witnesses, but this indicates that she believes that he has sown enough doubts for an acquittal or a divided jury.
The procedure is now in the seventh week and approaches the holiday weekend on July 4th. Judge Subramanian had previously told the jury that he would expect to have ended their service until then. The case is expected to be handed over to the jury on Monday with the final plans on Thursday.
Good mood at Combs
Combs was in a good mood when the indictment completed its case. During the crucifixion of the last witness of the indictment, a special agent of the Homeland Security Investigations, by defender Teny Geragos, Combs was seen as he laughed with his lawyers. At the end of the session on Tuesday, a smiling Combs hugged his lawyers.
Instead of relying on witnesses, Combs’ lawyers read a new series of text messages between Ventura and Combs into the protocol and an agreement with the public prosecutor’s office regarding certain government witnesses who had met several times before the process with representatives of the public prosecutor’s office SDNY.
The defense was able to present many of its arguments in the cross -interpretation of the almost three dozen witnesses of the public prosecutor and question them about alleged contradictions or contradicting statements.
“Perry-Mason moment” in cross-life
Judge Subramanian noted that defense lawyer Nicole Westmoreland in the cross-life of Ventura’s girlfriend Bryana “Bana” Bongolan-who said that Combs had been dangled from a balcony on the 17th floor-had a “real perry-mason moment”. Westmoreland presented evidence that Combs was not in Los Angeles at the time. (Bongolan said she didn’t remember the exact date.)
Defense criticizes the public prosecutor
Since Combs’ arrest in September, his lawyers have argued that the allegations raised against him over almost 20 years have argued an unjustified exceeding by law enforcement. They accuse the government of penetrating private life in Combs and condemning their sexual behavior. In her opening speech, Geragos said the two women that are involved in the case of sex trade – Ventura and a woman with the pseudonym “Jane” – are not victims. She described her as an independent, capable adults who would have made her own decisions.
While Combs had been an “idiot”, a controlling, jealous friend and at least one brutal act of violence, he is not in court for domestic violence, says Geragos. “Domestic violence is not sex trade,” she said. “If he had been charged with domestic violence or assault, we would not be here now.”
Witnesses are said to have benefited from relationship
Combs’ lawyers suggested that several of the witnesses of the public prosecutor’s witnesses had benefited from their relationship with Combs – romantic or professionally. In the case of Ventura, her relationship with the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment consolidated her celebrity status and promoted her music career.
Ventura had testified that Combs basically “thought as hostage” and only published an album of a ten-album contract. However, his lawyers showed photos of Ventura on red carpets of their film career, in photo shoots and with prominent artists.
But not only Ventura allegedly used Combs for personal advantages, said Geragos. She said that other alleged victims or employees had self -used motifs – including financial interests. The experienced lawyers took the former Badboy artist Dawn Richard and Bongolan into the cross-question and addressed them on civil lawsuits against Combs.
Motif: personal advantage
Former assistants from Combs, Capricorn Clark and a woman with the pseudonym “Mia” were asked why they continued to maintain friendly contact with Combs after their supposedly traumatic experiences.
“They are with him or work for him because they get something they promise themselves,” said Geragos. “What that is can vary in every person. And that is mostly. But each of these people gets something.”