Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs appeared in court to start off his eight-week long trial as the music mogul faced the first day of jury selection in his sex trafficking trial
Disgraced rapper Sean Combs, aka P Diddy, had an ‘inner circle’ who helped him commit ‘crime after crime’ prosecutors have said.
Diddy is standing in court at the beginning of his eight week trial, which began this afternoon (Monday May 12). Combs faces charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. The 55-year-old denies all the claims against him.
He has been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest in September. Prosecutors today claimed that the rapper acted in a dangerous ring of criminals.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson said: “To the public he was Puff Daddy or Diddy. A cultural icon. A businessman. Larger than life.
“But there was another side to him. A side that ran a criminal enterprise. 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 cover them up.”
“Together, the group worked to promote the defendant’s power. They carefully cultivated and guarded his reputation,” she added.
“He called himself the king and expected to be treated like one,” Johnson added. “He expected his inner circle to cater to his every desire including his sexual desire. And his inner circle made sure he got everything he wanted.”
Johnson claimed resources from his businesses were used to sexually exploit multiple women, including by forcing them to have sex with male escorts while he watched.
She told the court about a moment when he suspected that his longtime girlfriend was cheating on him. The rapper allegedly kidnapped one of his employees to help him find her. And when he found her, she said, he “beat her brutally, kicking her in the back and flinging her around like a rag doll.”
Diddy has been accused of drugging and abusing victims during drug-fuelled sex parties dubbed “freak offs”. According to court, other men were also involved in this criminal operation.
Today, Diddy’s family members were pictured entering the court room ahead of his appearance. They included Janice Combs, the rapper’s mother, as well as two of his children, Chance Combs, 19, and D’Lila Combs, 18.
His son Justin Combs, 31, was also in attendance. Some attendees donned hats branded with Diddy’s stage name Puff.
The trial continues.