Why Diddy's trial won’t be shown on TV as court case begins today
Warning: this article discusses sexual assault and domestic abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial is set to begin today (5 May) eight months after his arrest on three charges - but people following along will not be able to watch it on TV unlike some other previous high-profile cases.
The music producer and record executive will stand in front of a judge and jury of 12 to defend himself against the numerous allegations made against him.
A 14-page indictment claimed that Diddy was the head of a criminal enterprise that fronted as a record label, Bad Boy Records, and that he had used threats of violence to force and abuse women into taking part in drug-fuelled orgies called 'freak-offs'.
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Prosecutors said these were 'elaborate and produced sex performances', and that 1,000 bottles of baby oil were found in raids of his New York and Miami mansions.
The indictment further added that the parties were so exhausting that participants would require IV fluids to 'recover from the physical exertion and drug use.'
How long will Diddy's trial last?
The trial could last anywhere from eight to 10 weeks, with Diddy looking at a potential sentence of life behind bars if found guilty.
Diddy has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn since his arrest, having been denied bail on numerous occasions.
His lawyer continues to claim he is an 'innocent man' as they look to clear his name.
In what is set to be one of the US' biggest celebrity trials ever, millions will have their eyes on the Manhattan federal courtroom this week as proceedings begin.
However, the court case will not be televised due to an old US law.
Why won't Diddy's trial be televised?
Combs is facing federal criminal charges, which means that the presence of 'electronic media' is banned according to a procedural rule passed in 1946.
Under the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, it reads: "[E]xcept as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom."
In 1972, the Judicial Conference of the US adopted a prohibition against 'broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto.'
Though this also applied to civil cases, the rules for federal civil proceedings are slightly more flexible, with some instances allowing recording at the discretion of the judge.
Criminal trials at state level do however allow cameras in court.
This does mean that those wanting to keep up with the case will have to wait for courtroom sketches and reporting after the session.
What has Diddy been charged with?
Diddy has been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution according to the Southern District of New York.
Racketeering conspiracy can land him a maximum sentence of life in prison, while sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion also has a maximum sentence of life in prison in addition to a mandatory minimum of 15 years.
Transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Topics: Diddy, Celebrity News, Crime, US News
Joshua Nair