
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs isn’t happening with out pulling all of the stops. His protection pushed for the choose to overturn his convictions. On Tuesday, the choose principally stated “nah.” He declined to rewrite Diddy’s “unlawful” exercise as an novice pornographer’s work. Nonetheless, his protection didn’t let up, sending the choose a slew of character assist and sentencing suggestion letters from Combs’ household, business friends, and even his former public baes.
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On the last hour, Diddy himself is coming ahead. He submitted a letter asking for mercy and explaining he’s a “modified” man. His group launched an 11-minute documentary-style video depicting Diddy’s private {and professional} accomplishments. And at the moment, he spoke within the courtroom for the primary time. He didn’t testify through the trial.
It’s all in Decide Arun Subramanian’s arms now. Prosecutors need no less than 11 years and three months behind bars for violating the Mann Act. His protection is looking for 14 months. Their argument? He’s suffered sufficient.
Diddy’s Youngsters Give Emotional Statements In Courtroom (LIVE UPDATE)
Six of Diddy’s seven youngsters, together with his stepson, Quincy Brown, stepped to the rostrum to assist their dad. Combs’ youngest daughter, Love, is just two years previous. Except for Quincy, Christian, Justin, Probability, and twins D’Lila and Jessie spoke in court docket.
In keeping with AP, they crowded the rostrum, asking the choose to offer their dad a second probability. The eldest, Quincy, stated his father “has discovered a lesson.” Brown claimed that the household has seen him evolve, including, “He’s utterly remodeled.” In the meantime, Justin stated:
“My father is my superhero. Seeing him damaged down and stripped of the whole lot is one thing I’ll always remember.”
Moreover, Justin Combs instructed that, as powerful because the scenario has been, it most likely saved his father’s life. Throughout his 12 months in jail, Justin stated Diddy has kicked his drug and alcohol habits. Probability and D’Lila Combs cried as they learn ready remarks. D’Lila stated she fears dropping their father to jail and successfully being parentless. Her, Jessie, Christian, and Quincy’s mom, Kim Porter, died in late 2018.
“We’re bored with being sturdy. We’ve got already misplaced a lot. We’ve got misplaced our mom, we now have misplaced time with our father, and each day he stays incarcerated, we lose increasingly more. Please, your honor, please,” D’Lila Combs stated, crying, “give our household the possibility to heal collectively, to rebuild, to alter, to maneuver ahead, not as a headline, however as human beings. We’re making an attempt to do higher.”
Probability Combs stated, “As an alternative of constructing excuses, my father now works on methods to enhance.” In the meantime, Christian Combs stated their dad has grow to be “extra affected person, extra relaxed, extra trusting, extra understanding and only a higher man” whereas in jail.
“Please give my household grace. Please let my father out,” Christian Combs stated. “Please give him mercy.”
Afterward, the choose thanked the Combs children for his or her statements. “I understand how onerous it was to face up right here and inform me these issues, nevertheless it’s vital for me to listen to,” he stated.
For extra stay updates from the listening to, hold studying beneath.
Diddy Sobs Throughout 11-Minute Documentary Video (LIVE UPDATE)
Diddy’s children weren’t the one ones emotional in court docket. Combs himself confirmed indicators of misery whereas his youngsters spoke. At instances, he shook his head. And when seemingly upset, he dropped his head down and ran his arms by means of his gray hair.
After the youngsters completed talking, his protection performed the 11-minute life montage video in court docket. Clips in it confirmed Diddy together with his youngsters or making an attempt to encourage others, notably youngsters, in public settings. A number of minutes into the video, Combs rubbed half his face and started crying. His shoulders have been heaving at instances. Then, he wiped his eyes with one hand earlier than taking a tissue and doing the identical. See the complete video beneath.
For extra stay updates from the listening to, hold studying beneath.
Sean Combs Addresses Courtroom For The FIRST TIME (LIVE UPDATE)
As deliberate, Diddy was the final individual to handle the choose at the moment. Carrying glasses, he regarded over his papers and exhaled earlier than talking. He began by thanking the official for permitting him to “lastly converse up for [himself].” Diddy then apologized to Cassie instantly and to all the opposite victims of home violence.
“One of many hardest issues that I’ve needed to deal with is having to be quiet. Not having the ability to categorical how sorry I’m for my actions,” Combs advised the court docket, per CNN. “I need to personally apologize once more to Cassie Ventura for any hurt or harm that I’ve brought on her – emotionally or bodily.”
He then apologized to DV victims, highlighting the “disgusting, deplorable video” and the way it triggered folks all over the world. “Home violence will all the time be a heavy burden that I’ll eternally carry,” Combs added.
Except for dropping his companies and profession, Combs stated he misplaced his self-respect. “I’ve been humbled and damaged to my core. I hate myself proper now. I received stripped right down to nothing.”
Sean additionally addressed and apologized to his seven children, saying they “deserve higher.” Then, he turned to his mom, Janice Combs. His voice reportedly broke when he apologized and admitted to failing her as a son.
“You taught me higher. You raised me higher. I do know to whom a lot is given, a lot is predicted. I failed my group.”
As a baby, Diddy stated, he needed to be the “shining instance” of what folks of coloration may do, from proudly owning companies to creating wealth. As an alternative, Combs stated he “received misplaced.” “I’m not this unhealthy individual. I’m sorry to my group for letting y’all down.”
Turning to the choose, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs brazenly requested after which begged “for mercy.” He stated he can’t change his previous however pledges to alter his future. He additionally requested for an additional probability to be a father, son, and group chief and get the assistance he wants.
“I don’t have no one in charge however myself. I do know I’ll by no means put my arms on one other individual once more. I do know that I’ve discovered my lesson. I’m keen to adjust to any circumstances the court docket places upon me. Given an opportunity, once we discuss the potential for me sharing my story, it’s not only a scheme to attempt to get much less time — it’s that this story is actual, this story is tragic,” Diddy reportedly stated.
Earlier than ending his statements, he thanked his children once more and advised the choose they have been his deterrent. He pleaded that he would by no means jeopardize being in the identical scenario, figuring out his household wanted him.
“I do know, the prosecution needs you to make an instance of me. I simply need you to consider making an instance of what an individual can do in the event that they get one other probability,” Diddy stated. “In case you give me one other probability, I received’t allow you to down. And the proof of that’s these lovely youngsters that received up there and spoke for me.”
After Diddy spoke, the court docket took a five-minute break. Sentencing is predicted subsequent.
Decide Accepts Advice Of 70-87 Months In Jail (LIVE UPDATE)
After greetings, the presentation of adjustments, and a lil’ warning for protection, Decide Subramanian revealed his mindset relating to sentencing phrases. He reviewed objections from either side to the presentencing stories. And, he decided that the conduct Diddy was acquitted of can nonetheless be thought-about in his sentence. Proof from the trial that entails the transportation of Cassie, “Jane,” and male intercourse staff will even be thought-about. Moreover, the choose implied Diddy’s problem to the factual guilt in his case is a purple flag.
“On the whole, the narrative that he and his attorneys have put forth — that this case entails nothing greater than adults paying for time, not intercourse — is flatly inconsistent with each actuality…” the choose reportedly stated.
Additionally, the choose reminded the court docket that Diddy organized the intercourse events, employed the escorts, and used his cash to pay them. To the choose, Combs has “expressed regret for some issues.” Nonetheless, he hasn’t accomplished so for his conviction of arranging journey for escorts and his girlfriends to interact in paid lewd acts.
“Combs has challenged his factual guilt full-throatedly, and has even accomplished so after trial,” the choose stated, per CNN.
The advisory sentence from the court docket’s probation division for Diddy’s case is between 70 and 87 months. That provides as much as 5 years and 10 months to seven years and three months in jail. In keeping with CNN, the choose stated he doesn’t see a cause to stray from that suggestion. He declined so as to add enhancements really helpful by prosecutors that will warrant 9 to 11 years. Additionally, the choose cited tips that would imply Diddy pays a fantastic of $25,000 to $250,000. We won’t know FOR SURE till later at the moment.
For extra stay updates from the listening to, hold studying beneath.
OTHER MOMENTS FROM INSIDE THE COURTROOM (LIVE UPDATES)
- Diddy Arrives at Courtroom: Sean Combs arrived on the courthouse from the Metro Detention Heart in Brooklyn, the place he’s been locked up since his arrest in September 2024. The identical choose ruling at the moment denied him bail two instances, main up up to now. In a present of grace, Decide Subramanian did enable Diddy to put on non-jail garments. In keeping with the Related Press, he’s sporting a light-colored sweater over a button-down shirt and dark-colored slacks. He hugged a few of his legal professionals and waved to his supporters and household within the courtroom. His hair is reportedly grayer and whiter than typical, provided that he’s not allowed to make use of hair dye in jail.
- “Mia” Will Not Communicate In the present day, Decide Provides Warning: Diddy and the choose exchanged “good mornings.” Prosecutors introduced that “Mia” wouldn’t converse at the moment, as anticipated, attributable to a “bullying” letter that the protection submitted. The choose agreed that the letter’s tone was “inappropriate” and warned the protection. “Mia” was a trial witness who testified beneath a pseudonym and beforehand labored for Diddy. She testified to experiencing rape and abuse and witnessing violence. “Mia” was the one sufferer scheduled to talk in court docket at the moment.
- Decide Names Who Can Communicate: Diddy’s youngsters and Dr. Reverend Johnson will likely be allowed to talk. His legal professionals are additionally pushing to listen to from docs who’ve handled the 55-year-old whereas he’s been locked up.
RELATED: Second Of Fact! Diddy Pens Letter To Decide Asking For “Second Probability” Forward Of His Sentencing (SEE HERE)
- Prosecutors Current Argument For 11-Yr Sentence: Assistant U.S. Lawyer Christy Slavik argued that their sentencing suggestion “displays the conduct appropriately.” Slavik questioned whether or not Diddy is mostly a modified man as he claims, whereas reminding the court docket that “his victims don’t have the posh of shifting on so simply. They’re nonetheless choosing up the items.” Admitting to violence as a part of a protection technique just isn’t accountability, she stated — a considerable jail sentence is. Recalling Diddy beating Cassie in a lodge hallway, Slavik requested the court docket to think about “how a lot worse” his violent outbursts have been “behind closed doorways.” She added, “This isn’t an individual who has accepted accountability.”
- Protection Claps Again At Mann Act: Lawyer Jason Driscoll began by recapping the protection’s argument that the Mann Act. He claimed prosecutors ought to have by no means utilized it to Sean Combs. Driscoll argued that Mann Act prosecutions typically have focused folks accused of making a living off their conduct. He asserted that Combs “didn’t make a single cent” from what he was convicted of doing. In the meantime, Lawyer Nicole Westmoreland argued that Diddy’s life has impressed the Black group, and she or he grew to become emotional as she defined his affect on her. Westmoreland additionally pointed to a course Diddy taught in jail.
Recap Of Sean Combs’ Letter Plea To Decide
On the eve of his sentencing, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs wrote to the choose proclaiming himself to be a brand new man after realizing he was “damaged to my core.” Click on beneath to see the complete letter.
Related Press Michael R. Sisak, Larry Neumeister, Jennifer Peltz, and different workers contributed to this report through AP Newsroom.
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