Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault allegations which some readers may find distressing.
The trial of rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs continues in New York as he faces multiple charges including sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Prosecutors claim that Combs set up events known as 'freak-offs' in which women were manipulated into participating in drug-fuelled sexual performances with male sex workers.
Speaking on Combs' behalf, his attorneys have denied the allegations made against him and insisted that the 55-year-old rapper is innocent.
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They claim that any group sex was consensual and nobody was coerced into doing something they didn't want to do.
There have been many lawsuits lodged against Combs and the trial (which started on 5 May) will highlight the claims of four people, with one of the four reportedly prepared to waive their anonymity and testify under their own name.
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Last year, an anonymous party planner spoke about Diddy's 'freak-offs' and claimed she knew what happened at them.
Speaking to the New York Post, she said: "Everywhere you looked, you’d see yourself reflected again and again.
"You can imagine what it would look like when people are naked and having sex on the floor, on the couches, wherever.
"It was definitely a vibe he wanted to put out there, that everywhere you looked there would be sex happening. It was wall-to-wall debauchery."
She claimed she was hired to arrange food, drink, entertainment and décor for Diddy's parties, and alleged that the rapper 'was hiring both men and women' who were referred to as 'models' but 'were actually sex workers'.
Another party planner claimed that the rapper that the women brought to the 'freak-offs' be 'young and hot', alleging that they could not weigh more than 140lbs (63.5kg) unless they were tall and had to dress in a revealing manner.
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Court documents for Diddy's trial record that investigators recovered almost 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant from the rapper's mansions in Miami and Los Angeles.
Investigators have claimed that the freak-offs were 'coercive, manipulative events designed to break down victims and keep them dependent', with allegations that victims were given substances to keep them 'obedient and compliant' for days at a time.
While there is much attention on the trial proceedings they will not be televised as Diddy is facing federal criminal charges which prevents 'electronic media' from being in attendance.
As he is facing charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, both of which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, Combs could spend the rest of his life in prison if found guilty.
The trial is expected to last between eight and 10 weeks.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Joe Harker