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At this time, jurors in Diddy’s trial heard closing arguments from protection legal professional Marc Agnifilo. Agnifilo, who addressed the panel for 4 hours, forcefully and typically derisively pushed again on the U.S. authorities’s “exaggerated” narrative. He asserted that Diddy was being unfairly persecuted for his sexual “life-style,” insisting that his consumer was harmless of all prices.
Agnifilo mentioned the protection doesn’t dispute that Diddy bodily assaulted his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. (“We personal the home violence,” Agnifilo mentioned. “I hope you guys know that.”) However the rapper “didn’t do the issues he’s charged with, racketeering or intercourse trafficking,” the legal professional added. “He’s going to struggle to the dying to defend himself towards what he didn’t do.”
The prosecution workforce alleges that Diddy sex-trafficked Ventura and one other ex-girlfriend, “Jane,” forcing them to take part within the drug-dazed “freak offs” on the coronary heart of the case. Agnifilo rejected that model of occasions, referring to Diddy’s relationship with Ventura as “a terrific fashionable love story” between two “swingers.”
Agnifilo argued that each ladies had been consenting and typically enthusiastic individuals in “freak offs,” which the lawyer characterised as nice evenings in “stunning resort rooms.” He tried to downplay the marathon sexual encounters, together with the truth that Diddy recorded them on video. “He’s not the one man in America making do-it-yourself porn,” Agnifilo mentioned.
In closing, Agnifilo implored the jury to “summon the braveness” and acquit Diddy. “I’m asking you to acquit Sean Combs of all of the counts. He’s not a racketeer,” Agnifilo mentioned. “He sits there harmless, so return him to his household.”
What’s subsequent: The jury will get the case very first thing Monday, Subramanian confirmed this afternoon. Then it could possibly begin deliberations. We’ll preserve you up to date on all the important thing developments.
The view from inside
By Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas, Katherine Koretski and Jing Feng
Agnifilo spoke animatedly, often utilizing a biting and jocular tone to convey skepticism concerning the authorities’s case towards his consumer.
In a single notable second, Agnifilo appeared to mock the federal legislation enforcement officers who searched Diddy’s homes, remarking that the brokers made America “secure from Astroglide,” the lubricant model the rapper used for “freak offs” with ex-girlfriends and male escorts. “Option to go, fellas,” Agnifilo mentioned. “You guys simply do you.”
When the jurors had been on a break, Maurene Comey, one of many prosecutors, complained to Choose Arun Subramanian about Agnifilo’s tone. “Respectfully,” Agnifilo replied, “I feel I’m allowed to be sarcastic.”
Within the prosecution’s rebuttal, Comey mentioned Diddy’s protection workforce served up “lies” and “excuse after excuse” for the defendant’s “inexcusable conduct.” She added: “Make no mistake, this trial was how, in Sean Combs’ world, ‘no’ was by no means an choice.”
In different information: Diddy, sitting near the protection desk, appeared engaged throughout Agnifilo’s summation — a pointy distinction together with his usually downcast look throughout prosecutor Christy Slavik’s closing arguments yesterday. The music tycoon acknowledged his household within the courtroom earlier within the day, forming his arms right into a coronary heart and giving them a thumb-up.
PSA: Each night time throughout Diddy’s trial, NBC’s “Dateline” will drop particular episodes of the “True Crime Weekly” podcast to get you on top of things. “Dateline” correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC Information’ Chloe Melas and particular company — proper in entrance of the courthouse. Hear right here.
