Sean Combs’ criminal trial commenced in New York City on Monday, May 5, with jury selection continuing until Tuesday, May 6.
Combs was apprehended in September and subsequently charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Throughout the proceedings, Combs has consistently maintained his innocence, vehemently rejecting the prosecution’s proposition of a 5-year federal prison sentence in exchange for a guilty plea.
Kanye West
Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Over 50 celebrities are anticipated to testify or have their names mentioned during the trial.
On Monday, potential jurors were asked if they were familiar with a list of celebrities, which included Kanye West and former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard.
Laurieann Gibson.
Photo credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA
On Monday and Tuesday, the list of names mentioned in court included Combs’ close associate and confidante Laurieann Gibson (pictured), Combs’ ex-Cassie Ventura, rap producer Kanye West, Dawn Richard, actor Michael B. Jordan, music executive Herbert Pierre, music producer Dallas Austin, Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams, rapper Kid Cudi, actress Lauren London, rapper Yung Miami, comedian Mike Myers, and several C- and D-list rappers and actors.
On Tuesday, Judge Arun Subramanian inquired whether potential jurors personally knew any of the celebrities mentioned. The judge had previously asked whether they were “familiar” with the celebrities.
Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, previously stated that his client suffers from a “mental condition” and was not in a “clear frame of mind” to commit the crimes he’s being accused of.
As per court documents obtained by TMZ, Combs’ defense team plans to present testimony from a doctor and a Columbia professor. These witnesses will attest to Combs’ mental condition.
The doctor’s testimony will establish that Combs was not in a clear state of mind to participate in orgies or alleged abusive activities.
Combs has been incarcerated at a Brooklyn federal detention center since his arrest. If convicted, he faces the possibility of serving the next 20 years in prison.
