Sean 'Diddy' Combs Seeks a Mistrial
Sean "Diddy" Combs is currently on trial in New York as the former rapper and producer was indicted on federal charges of having engaged in or attempted to engage in sex trafficking, obstructing justice, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, and bribery. But it sounds like the rapper's legal team is now angling for a mistrial.
In a letter that was filed June 7 in the Southern District of New York, Diddy's legal team called for a prosecutorial mistrial, arguing that the prosecution knowingly presented false testimony to the court.
The move centers around the testimony of Cassie Ventura's friend, Bryana "Bana" Bongolan, who claimed Diddy dangled her off a 17th-floor balcony in September 2016.
Portions of her testimony were questioned after Bana couldn't remember details of the alleged incident, including what drugs she was on at the time.
Diddy's legal team wrote that Cassie and Bana each provided "demonstrably false" evidence and then "doubled down, using this false testimony to obtain a ruling admitting inadmissible hearsay evidence about it as well, all to present a false narrative to the jury."
"When the introduction of perjured testimony results in a criminal conviction, and 'the prosecution knew or should have known of the perjury, the conviction must be set aside ‘if there is any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury,'" Diddy's team wrote according to Fox News.
"Moreover 'the prosecutor’s knowing use of perjured testimony can violate the Due Process Clause even if it only undermines a witness’s credibility.'"
Diddy has maintained his innocence throughout the trial despite witnesses testifying to alleged rape, sexual assault, severe physical abuse, forced labor and drug trafficking.
The trial is expected to conclude by July 4.