Sean Combs Trial Update: Defence and Prosecution Rest Case

Both legal teams in the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs have rested their case, ushering in the final phases of the high-profile proceedings in a Manhattan federal courthouse.

US prosecutors finished questioning their 34th and final witness in the seventh week of testimony, after which the defence delivered a brief case in which they opted against calling anyone further to the stand.

That included Mr Combs himself: it is common for defendants not to testify in their own trial, as taking the stand could open them up to potentially incriminating themselves.

In a short, standard exchange with Judge Arun Subramanian, Mr Combs confirmed that he would not take the stand on his own behalf.

'Is it your decision not to testify in this case?' the judge asked, to which Mr Combs responded: 'That is my decision, your honour.'

'It is solely my decision,' he continued, before adding that he came to that conclusion 'with my lawyers.'

'It's my decision to make. I'm making this freely,' he added.

The defence rested after presenting a number of exhibits, a process that lasted less than half an hour.

Closing arguments are expected to begin tomorrow, after which jurors will be tasked with deciding the fate of the 55-year-old, who faces life in prison if convicted for charges including sex trafficking and racketeering.

Yesterday, the defence presented to the judge their acquittal motion - an argument that the prosecution has not met its burden of proof for each of the five charges.

Such efforts are common in these types of cases, but acquittals are almost never granted.

The prosecution said the artist and entrepreneur trafficked women and men for drug-fuelled sexual relations, sometimes days-long encounters dubbed 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights.'

Government attorneys closed their questioning by offering reams of text messages and other records for jurors to review.

As testimony of the last summary witness - someone brought in to explain data and records to jurors - wrapped up, prosecutor Maurene Comey delivered a list questions to emphasise elements of the charges.

Mr Combs denies all charges.

Lawyers for Mr Combs have insisted that what prosecutors have called sex trafficking was consensual.

Three women have testified in graphic detail of harrowing sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

Singer Casandra Ventura, Mr Combs's girlfriend for more than a decade, filed suit against Mr Combs in 2023, a civil case that was settled out of court in less than 24 hours - but which opened the floodgates for a deluge of accusations against the one-time music industry powerhouse.

She was among the key witnesses to testify at the trial, and jurors were repeatedly shown now-infamous surveillance footage of Mr Combs violently assaulting Ms Ventura in a hotel.

According to the source: RTE.ie.