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(NewsNation) — Opening statements are expected to statesman Monday successful the national transgression proceedings of Sean “Diddy” Combs arsenic some prosecutors and defense attorneys illustration retired what jurors tin expect during the astir eight-week proceeding.
Combs went done 4 days of assemblage enactment past week, which did not nutrient the last 12 jurors who volition beryllium for trial. These jurors, on with six alternates, volition beryllium chosen Monday greeting anterior to opening statements. The process is expected to instrumentality 1 hour.
Combs faces national charges of racketeering conspiracy, enactment trafficking by force, fraud oregon coercion and proscription to prosecute successful prostitution.
The euphony shaper has been held without bail since his September 2024 arrest, which came aft 2 of his homes were raided by national investigators 7 months earlier.
Prosecutors person alleged Combs utilized the resources of his euphony empire to make “a transgression endeavor whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to prosecute in, among different crimes, enactment trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”
Opening statements volition acceptable the signifier not lone with grounds but imaginable witnesses that volition attest during a apt affectional trial.
Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ erstwhile partner, is expected to attest arsenic the prosecution's pb witness. She is expected to beryllium the 3rd witness. The archetypal witnesser acceptable to attest is simply a antheral escort, and a 2nd witnesser hasn’t yet been identified.
Footage reportedly showing Ventura being assaulted by Combs has been allowed by the justice for jurors to watch. The edifice surveillance video obtained by CNN has been called a "smoking gun" by ineligible experts.
Many prospective jurors had been dismissed during the enactment process owed to their opinions astir the footage.
If Combs is convicted connected each charges, helium could stay down bars for life.
