Prosecution rests after 30 witnesses; Diddy skips testimony as defence calls no one
Sean “Diddy” Combs has opted not to testify in his high-profile sex-trafficking trial, bringing the dramatic six-week courtroom saga to a close without the hip-hop mogul ever taking the stand.
Jurors heard from more than 30 prosecution witnesses, including Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, former staffers, hotel workers, and male escorts. But on Tuesday, both sides rested their cases, with the defence calling no witnesses and instead relying on cross-examination and evidence submissions to argue his innocence.
Addressing Judge Arun Subramanian, Combs, 55, confirmed he would not give evidence and thanked the judge for doing an “excellent job”. He made the decision, he said, after “thorough” discussions with his legal team.
The prosecution concluded its case by portraying Combs as the ringleader of a criminal operation that used wealth and fame to control women through coercion, sex, drugs and violence. The charges include racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transporting women for prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty and denies all accusations of sexual abuse.
The defence quickly followed the prosecution’s conclusion by requesting an acquittal—standard legal procedure—arguing the government failed to prove its case. They presented a short rebuttal that lasted under an hour, submitting text messages meant to show Diddy and his partners were involved in loving, consensual relationships. No one was called to testify on Combs’ behalf.
The courtroom was stunned in May when Ventura took the stand while heavily pregnant, testifying over four days about her long-term relationship with Combs. She claimed she was forced into frequent “freak off” sessions with male sex workers, often under pressure and surveillance. “It felt like a job,” she said, describing how these encounters dominated her life from 2007 to 2018 and left her unable to focus on her own music career.
Her friend and former stylist later confirmed Ventura gave birth just two weeks after leaving the witness stand.
Another woman, testifying under the pseudonym “Jane,” painted a similarly disturbing picture of life inside Combs’ inner circle. Prosecutors accused the music mogul of using his company, Bad Boy Entertainment, as a front to arrange these encounters and cover up his behaviour.
Throughout the trial, jurors were shown explicit footage and heard claims of violence, intimidation, and drug use. Yet Combs’ lawyers urged the jury not to confuse a controversial lifestyle with criminality.
“Yes, he’s a complicated man,” defence attorney Marc Agnifilo told the court. “He may have engaged in violent acts he’s not proud of. But that does not make him a sex trafficker.”
The defence team has consistently maintained that the sex parties were consensual, part of a “kinky” swingers lifestyle rather than acts of coercion or abuse. They pointed out that many witnesses, including former employees, only testified after being granted immunity.
Despite Amazon’s looming announcement of UK expansion and global political headlines, the Combs trial has remained front-page news. His decision not to testify was anticipated, yet still marked a dramatic moment in a case that has gripped the entertainment world.
Combs has been held without bail since his arrest in New York in September 2024. Now, with all testimony concluded, the jury will soon begin deliberations on a case that could alter the legacy of one of hip-hop’s most powerful figures.
