A prosecution witness in the trial of American rapper, Sean “Diddy” Combs has decided not to speak at his sentencing.
According to the CNN on Friday, “Prosecution Witness MIA Decides Not To Speak at Sean Diddy Combs Sentencing. She said she lied against Diddy.”
Furthermore, “former employee of the rapper who testified during the trial under the pseudonym Mia was scheduled to speak today, but she will no longer be speaking.
The prosecution said she changed her mind in part because of the defense letter, which prosecutor Christy Slavik called ‘bullying.’ She had testified that she was assaulted by Combs.”
On the other hand, speakers in favour of Combs were presented in court. “Two or three of the music mogul’s children wish to speak on behalf of their father. The defence also offered doctors who evaluated Combs and someone regarding a reentry program.”
It was stated further that “all individuals have already submitted letters to the judge, the defense said.
Prosecutor Slavik pointed that the defense previously objecting to Mia’s testimony, but is now trying to have several character witnesses speak for Combs.”
The judge noted concerns with the defense’s conduct. He said he “agreed that the tone of the defense letter was inappropriate. He allowed the children to speak, but will rule on other suggested speakers later.”
In July, mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty Wednesday on two federal counts of transporting individuals for prostitution but acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, following an eight-week trial in Manhattan, the New York Times reports.
The federal jury, made up of eight men and four women from Manhattan, Westchester, and the Bronx, delivered its partial verdict after more than 13 hours of deliberation. Combs, 55, faced up to life in prison had he been convicted on all counts.
Combs was convicted under the federal Mann Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years per count. The guilty verdicts were tied to incidents involving two women identified as “Jane” and Casandra Ventura.
Despite the felony convictions, the verdict is seen as a partial legal victory for Combs, who had faced damning allegations from prosecutors.
They described him as the leader of a criminal enterprise who “used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,” allegedly coercing women into sex acts with male prostitutes while he watched and recorded.