The trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is almost over as lawyers prepare to give their final arguments on Thursday.
Combs, 55, is facing serious charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transporting women for prostitution. If found guilty of racketeering, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Prosecutors say Combs led a group that committed crimes for years.
They accuse him of forcing women, including singer Casandra Ventura and another woman known as “Jane,” into drug-filled sex with escorts. They also accuse him of bribery, witness tampering, and arson.
“The evidence shows a clear pattern of abuse and control,” one prosecutor said earlier in the trial.
Combs’s lawyers strongly deny the claims. They say the relationships were consensual and argue that many of the witnesses had motives like money or jealousy.
“These people are not telling the full truth,” a defence attorney told the court.
Over the past weeks, 34 witnesses have testified, including former staff, friends of the victims, and even a hotel guard who said Combs’s team paid him $100,000 in cash.
The jury has seen videos, phone messages, and financial records, including CashApp payments and hotel bookings. While prosecutors say these prove the crimes, the defence says many of the messages show love and consent.
Combs chose not to testify, which is allowed under U.S. law.
The trial has gained huge public attention. Each day, social media influencers wait outside the Manhattan courthouse to report updates, since phones and electronics are not allowed inside.
Combs has remained in jail during the trial and has not been seen entering or leaving the courthouse. But several famous people, including rapper Kid Cudi—who testified that Combs’s team set his car on fire—have appeared in court.
Lawyers are expected to finish their closing arguments by Friday. The jury may begin their decision-making process, known as deliberation, as early as that afternoon or on Monday.
Now, the world waits as 12 New Yorkers decide the future of a man once known as one of the biggest names in the music industry.