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Warning: this article discusses sexual assault and domestic abuse which some readers may find distressing.
The trial of Sean Combs, better known as P. Diddy, begins today, in New York but the musician's lawyers reportedly tried to get one piece of evidence thrown out before the proceedings began.
The 55-year-old has been hit with three charges by the Southern District of New York (SDNY) in a 14-page legal indictment.
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The indictment alleges Combs 'engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals,' which were 'verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual'.
A number of celebrities have spoken out, or dissed in Eminem's case, about the I'll Be Missing You singer, with several making reference to the 'freak off' sex parties that the American rapper used to host.
He was arrested in September 2024 and has been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Should he be found guilty of these crimes, it is expected that he would be handed a life sentence in prison, given that is the minimum sentence for sex trafficking.
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Lawyers representing Combs have reportedly tried to throw one piece of evidence out of court - a video which shows the celebrity kicking and dragging his ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura in a hotel back in 2016.
CNN initially obtained and published the footage last year after the public allegations first arose.
Ventura accused her former partner of rape and physical abuse in November 2023, but the case was settled the day after it was filed, with the lawsuit also alleging that he had paid the hotel $50,000 in order to acquire the security footage.
The footage could now serve as a key piece of evidence against the rapper, whose lawyers asked for it to be removed on the basis that it happened during one of their client's 'freak offs' and that this was only a 'glimpse into a complex but decade-long consensual relationship.'
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However, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said Combs' lawyers failed to convince him that the footage should be excluded. 'Its relevance to the case outweighs any potential prejudice to Combs', the judge said.
His lawyers also failed in a bid to delay the trial by another two months to give them more time to prepare.
Combs has denied all the charges against him and has rejected a plea deal, with opening statements set to be given on 12 May.
The trial, which despite the massive public interest cannot be shown on TV, continues.
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If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7, or via live chat, available 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday.
Topics: Celebrity News, Domestic Abuse, US News
James Moorhouse