Trending 
Jury selection is scheduled to commence on Monday in New York for the high-profile trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who has seen his reputation plummet after being jailed on allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Combs, 55, has been preparing for his trial since last year, facing charges of leading a criminal organisation that prosecutors claim forced victims into drug-induced sex parties through intimidation and violence.
He has pleaded not guilty to all allegations, maintaining that any sexual encounters were consensual. At a recent hearing, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo provided a glimpse of their defence by discussing the artist’s uninhibited “swinging” lifestyle.
The prosecution indicated in court that it had extended a plea bargain to Combs—details of which were not revealed—but he rejected it. If found guilty, the former rap producer and global icon, often recognised for his pivotal role in mainstream hip-hop, could spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
Over the years, Combs, who has used various stage names like Puff Daddy and P Diddy, has accumulated significant wealth from his music career and his investments in the liquor business.
The start date for jury selection is notably the first Monday in May, which coincides with New York’s Met Gala, a glamorous charity event where Combs was once a frequent guest.
Only two years prior, he was photographed at that event uptown, but on Monday, he will be downtown in federal court, as the jurors who will decide his fate are presented with an array of questions from attorneys on both sides.
Jury selection is anticipated to conclude within a week, with opening statements provisionally set for May 12.
Combs was taken into custody by federal agents in New York in September 2024 and has had bail denied on multiple occasions.
He is being held at Brooklyn’s infamous Metropolitan Detention Centre, which has faced numerous complaints regarding pests and deterioration, as well as incidents of violence.
Notable inmates at this facility include disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is associated with Jeffrey Epstein, and Sam Bankman-Fried, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur found guilty of fraud.
During pre-trial sessions, Combs has appeared in court looking significantly older, with his formerly sleek black hair now unruly and grey.
