A federal judge has rejected Sean “Diddy” Combs’ request for a mistrial in his ongoing sex-trafficking and racketeering case, dismissing claims of prosecutorial misconduct related to an alleged arson incident involving rapper Kid Cudi.Combs’ defence team argued that prosecutors improperly suggested he was involved in the destruction of fingerprint evidence linked to a 2012 fire that destroyed Kid Cudi’s Porsche. The Los Angeles arson investigator’s testimony, they claimed, implied Combs’ culpability. However, US District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that the testimony was not prejudicial and denied the mistrial motion.The trial began earlier this month in Manhattan and has featured a series of explosive testimonies. Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, testified that his car was set ablaze shortly after Combs discovered his relationship with Cassie Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend. An LAPD arson investigator corroborated that the fire was intentionally set using a Molotov cocktail.Further intensifying the proceedings, Combs’ former assistant, Capricorn Clark, testified that Combs once threatened to kill Kid Cudi over the relationship with Ventura. She recounted a harrowing incident where Combs allegedly showed up at her apartment with a gun, demanding to confront Mescudi. Clark also described an episode where Combs physically assaulted Ventura, kicking her forcefully.Ventura herself delivered a powerful testimony, detailing years of alleged abuse, including rape and physical violence, during her relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018. She described the experience as both “challenging” and “empowering,” expressing hope that her story would inspire other survivors to speak out.Despite the testimonies, legal experts suggest that the prosecution faces challenges in securing a conviction. Some witnesses’ accounts, while emotionally compelling, may not meet the stringent legal standards required for the charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life imprisonment. The trial continues to unfold, with the court expected to hear from additional witnesses in the coming days.
