Latest news with #R&B
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Diddy beat one criminal trial after testifying. Will he make the same gamble again?
Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs haven't said if he will testify at his federal sex-trafficking trial. Legal experts warn that testifying could open him to damaging cross-examination. Combs took the stand at his 2001 guns and bribery trial and was acquitted. Sean "Diddy" Combs made a bold move when he testified at his Manhattan gun and bribery trial more than two decades ago. Combs, who was facing up to 15 years in prison on state charges related to a 1999 Times Square nightclub shooting, ultimately walked away a free man. "I thought I was being shot at," Combs, then 31, told jurors, turning the tables by playing the victim rather than the aggressor. "My hands were up." Back then, the jury believed the hip-hop mogul, listening to his life story, laughing at his jokes, and ultimately awarding him a full acquittal. "God has blessed me," the rap entrepreneur told jurors. "She's my mother — it's like a full-time job," he said when asked to name Janice Combs' profession, eliciting warm laughs from female jurors. If Combs decides to testify in his Manhattan federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, now in its sixth week, he might not be as lucky. Combs' team of attorneys has yet to hint at whether the graying, now-55-year-old will take the witness stand. But lawyers who are not involved in Combs' case told Business Insider that testifying could backfire badly and expose the onetime near-billionaire to potentially damaging cross-examination from the prosecution. "It's a very risky move," attorney and former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow said, adding that it would likely have to be a last resort, "Hail Mary situation" for the defense to put Combs on the stand. Chutkow, who has handled racketeering and sex trafficking cases during his time leading the criminal division of the US attorney's office in Detroit, called it "very rare" for a criminal defendant "to succeed in the way they envision when they testify." If Combs does take the stand, damaging new information may emerge, and prosecutors will surely revisit the most damning evidence presented so far, including the infamous hotel-beatdown video showing him kicking and dragging R&B singer Cassie Ventura, said Chutkow. "That videotape of him beating Cassie Ventura will be one of the first items that they will cross-examine him with," Chutkow said. "And how does one explain that away? You can't really explain it away, and if you even try, you're going to only dig yourself deeper into a hole." Defense attorney Michael Bachner, who was part of Combs' legal team during the music tycoon's 2001 Manhattan trial, told BI that he'd be "shocked" if Combs took the stand again. Combs' lawyers have already "done a good enough job raising doubts" among the eight-man, four-woman jury, said Bachner, a former prosecutor. The rapper's defense attorneys have tried to use their cross-examinations of his two sex-trafficking accusers — Ventura, the prosecution's star witness, and another ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym "Jane" — as jealous at the time and financially motivated now. Combs' attorneys have argued that the sex he engaged in with the women was consensual. While Ventura and Jane both testified about being beaten and forced into dayslong, drug-fueled sex performances with male escorts referred to as "freak offs" or "hotel nights," Combs' defense has pointed to affectionate message exchanges with him. "Their defense is, 'Ladies and gentlemen, Sean Combs has already told you what this is about. You saw his emails and texts. You saw what he was saying contemporaneously, what was being said back and forth,'" Bachner said. "So there's no reason for him to take the stand here." Spencer Kuvin, an attorney who has represented multiple accusers of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, agreed that by testifying, Combs risks damaging his case. "The pro of testifying is that he will be able to humanize himself with the jury and possibly be able to try and convince the jury about the consensual nature of his actions," Kuvin said. "The downside of testifying is the ability of cross-examination beyond the limited testimony he will try to offer." The defense does not need Combs to take the witness stand in order to pursue their argument that while Combs was, at times, a violent drug user with an unconventional sex life, he was not involved in sex trafficking or racketeering, said former Manhattan federal prosecutor Sarah Krissoff. "The defense was able to get this narrative in during the cross-examination of the government's witnesses," Krissoff, a white-collar defense attorney. Still, Krissoff said, "At the end of the day, it is Combs' decision whether or not he wants to testify." "The court will make sure that Combs understands that it is his decision, not his lawyer's decision," she said. Attorneys for Combs did not respond to a request for comment regarding whether he will take the witness stand. Prosecutors will soon rest their case after they called more than thirty witnesses over the course of six weeks to testify against Combs. The defense is expected to start presenting its side to the jury next week. The defense plans to call two employees of Combs Global, his lifestyle and music empire, to testify next week on his behalf, lead attorney Marc Agnifilo told the judge Monday. A forensic psychiatrist is also on deck to testify as an expert witness for the defense. "His children might be introduced because they can introduce him and show that he's not the monster that has been portrayed by the prosecution, but is a devoted, caring, loving father," said Chutkow. "Oftentimes that kind of character evidence comes in without a lot of searing cross-examination," he said. "So it's a safer way for the defense to soften the portrayal that the prosecution had earlier made." If convicted of the top charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, Combs faces up to life in prison. Read the original article on Business Insider
The Herald
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald
US singer Chris Brown pleads not guilty to assault charge in UK court
US singer Chris Brown on Friday pleaded not guilty to attacking a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub two years ago. Brown is charged with attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm in what prosecutors said was an 'unprovoked attack' on Abraham Diaw in the nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old appeared at London's Southwark Crown court, where he denied the charge. His trial was scheduled to begin on October 26 2026. The R&B star, a two-time Grammy Award winner known for hits such as Loyal, Run It and Under the Influence , was granted bail in May after promising to pay a £5m (R121.5m) security fee to begin his Breezy Bowl XX tour. Brown was arrested at a hotel in Manchester in, northern England last month after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident two years ago. Reuters
NBC News
6 hours ago
- NBC News
Judge denies defense motion to move R. Kelly to home detention
A federal judge has denied a defense motion to release R. Kelly to home confinement after what lawyers called an assassination attempt against the disgraced musician. The denial comes days after defense lawyers said Kelly was hospitalized for an overdose of medication administered by prison officials. The bombshell allegation also came shortly after Kelly's attorneys alleged that prison officials directed another inmate to kill the R&B singer in exchange for the inmate's freedom. Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is serving a 30-year prison sentence at the Federal Correctional Institute in Butner, North Carolina, after his 2021 New York conviction of racketeering and sex trafficking. U.S. District Court Judge Martha Pacold denied Kelly's motion on Thursday, ruling that she "lacks jurisdiction over this matter." Kelly's attorney, Beau Brindley, did not immediately return a request for comment. This month, Kelly's attorney has filed a flurry of motions seeking to get the "Ignition" singer released to home confinement. Prosecutors have responded to Kelly's request and allegations in court filings, calling them "deeply unserious and theatrical" and "repugnant to the sentence that this Court imposed for deeply disturbing offenses." In court filings last week, Kelly's lawyer accused prison officials of soliciting another inmate, Mikeal Glenn Stine, to kill the singer. At the same time, the pair was detained at a federal prison in Tucson, Arizona, this spring. The court filing alleged that prison officials offered to free Stine, who has a terminal illness, in exchange for killing Kelly. Shortly after the allegation was made, Kelly's attorney claimed in court that his client was moved to solitary confinement. Kelly's lawyer this week alleged the singer was hospitalized on Friday after prison officials allegedly administered him an overdose of medication, according to a court filing. The filing alleged that prison officials then moved Kelly back to solitary confinement, taking him out of the hospital against doctors' orders. "Mr. Kelly's life is in danger, and that danger is coming from Bureau of Prisons officials and their actions," the Monday court filing states. "Mr. Kelly needs this Court's intervention. His life actually depends on it." A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement that it does "not discuss the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual" and "does not comment on pending litigation." Amid the slew of jaw-dropping court filings, Kelly's attorney also told media outlets last week that he is trying to seek a presidential pardon for his client. "President Trump has been fighting against this kind of criminal weaponization of the DOJ against public figures since he took office,' Brindley told USA Today. "And we will ask him to now stand up with us as we advance his fight and as our client fears that he might be killed to cover up the corruption that we seek to expose." Gerald Griggs, a lawyer representing some of Kelly's victims, said in a statement that his clients are "firmly opposed to any efforts to secure his early release or the granting of a pardon." "No amount of extrajudicial activity changes the fact that he was found guilty and must serve the sentence imposed upon him," Griggs said.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Chris Brown pleads not guilty to assault charge in UK court over alleged attack
Chris Brown pleads not guilty to assault charge in UK court over alleged attack Show Caption Hide Caption Chris Brown arrested over 2023 incident in London Metropolitan Police arrested Chris Brown in Manchester, England, on May 15 for an incident that took place in London on Feb. 19, 2023. Chris Brown pleaded not guilty on Friday, June 20, to attacking a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub two years ago. Brown is charged with attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm in what prosecutors said was an "unprovoked attack" with a tequila bottle on Abraham Diaw in a London nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court, where supporters filled the public gallery ahead of the hearing. The two-time Grammy Award winner, known for hits such as "Loyal," "Run It" and "Under the Influence," was granted bail in May after promising to pay a $6.7 million security fee in order to begin his "Breezy Bowl XX" tour. During the court hearing, Brown spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and to deny the charge of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm, telling the court clerk: "Not guilty, ma'am." Chris Brown makes bail, surrenders passport as world tour looms His co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, 38, also pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm. The pair were granted bail until their next court appearance on July 11, when they may be asked to enter a plea to a less serious charge of assault causing actual bodily harm. Brown is also charged with having an offensive weapon, namely a bottle, but was not asked to enter a plea on Friday. Their trial is scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026. Supporters said "We love you, Chris" as Brown left the dock after the brief hearing. The R&B star was arrested at a hotel in Manchester, northern England, last month after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident two years ago.
CNN
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
US singer Chris Brown pleads not guilty to assault charge in UK court
US singer Chris Brown pleaded not guilty on Friday to a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm following an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub in 2023. Appearing at Southwark Crown Court, the Grammy-winning artist denied accusations that he attempted to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Abraham Diaw at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, London, on February 19, 2023. Brown confirmed his name and date of birth before entering his plea, saying: 'Not guilty ma'am' during the hearing at Southwark Crown Court, according to PA Media news agency. His co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a US national who turned 39 on the day of the hearing, denied the same charge. The pair are further charged with assaulting Diaw occasioning him actual bodily harm. Brown also faces one count of having an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place. They were not asked to enter pleas on those counts, with a further court hearing set for July 11. Approximately 20 spectators – many reportedly fans of the R&B singer – sat in the public gallery behind the dock for Friday's hearing, according to PA Media. The 36-year-old has continued performing on his international tour while on conditional bail. He took to the stage in Cardiff on Thursday evening, just hours before the court appearance. During a hearing last month, Manchester Magistrates' Court was told that Diaw had been standing at the bar inside Tape nightclub when he was struck several times with a bottle. The alleged attack continued in another part of the venue, where he was reportedly punched and kicked repeatedly. Brown, often called by his nickname Breezy, was arrested at Manchester's Lowry Hotel at 2 a.m. on May 15 this year by detectives from the Metropolitan Police. He was then released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, on May 21. Under the terms of his bail, Brown was required to pay £4 million ($5.4 million) with a further £1 million due in seven days. The sum served as a financial guarantee to secure his return to court and may be forfeited if he breaches any of the conditions of his release. A date for a five- to seven-day trial has been set for October next year.
