Diddy’s Case Takes a Turn: Serious charges including kidnapping, sex trafficking, and arson dropped

Diddy's prosecutors dropped multiple charges against the rapper.

In a turn of events, the prosecutors in P Diddy's case have decided to drop multiple charges, only days before the closing arguments are supposed to be presented. A letter to Judge Arun Subramanian was filed by the government on Tuesday, expressing that the theories of attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking will not be pursued.

The letter stated,

"The Government understands the Court’s desire for streamlined instructions. With that in mind, the Government has suggested ways to streamline those instructions. Specifically, the Government has removed instructions from the charge relating to (i) attempted kidnapping under both California and New York law, (ii) attempted arson under California law, and (iii) aiding and abetting sex trafficking. The Government is no longer planning to proceed on these theories of liability, so instructions are no longer necessary."

More about the ongoing trial involving Diddy

After six weeks of testimony and trials, this decision doesn't exactly state dropping major charges, but instead simplifies them to make it easy for the jury to focus on.

Diddy has pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and instead, the prosecutors will be focusing on the forced labor and sex trafficking portions of the charge.

The defence did not bring up any witnesses and instead submitted evidence of several text messages between Mr Combs and his ex-girlfriend, singer Casandra Ventura, and another victim who testified under the pseudonym Jane. While Alexandra Shapiro, Sean Combs' attorney, stated that the victims, including Cassie, were strong, independent women who could have left on their own accord and weren't coerced into anything,

Mr Combs was "regrettably violent, but domestic violence is not sex trafficking", Shapiro said. While prosecutors argued that neither physical restraint of victims nor commercial sex is required to prove the coercion in sex trafficking.

They wrapped up their arguments in 20 minutes on Tuesday, where they essentially expressed that the government has failed to prove any of the charges against him, as he has also pleaded not guilty, and that the case against Combs should, in fact, be dropped.

Closing arguments will begin on Thursday, when both sides will state their last bid to sway a 12-member jury, while their deliberations are expected to begin as early as 30th June.

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