Diddy acquitted of human trafficking charges
Sean "Diddy" Combs has been acquitted of charges of human trafficking for the purpose of prostitution and of charges of extortion.
But he was found guilty of two other charges related to prostitution.
This is evident from the verdict, which was read out in New York on Wednesday afternoon Danish time. Reuters writes.
The two counts Combs was found guilty of were not the most serious of the charges the world-famous rapper faced.
He could get up to ten years in prison for each of the two counts.
Judge Arun Subramanian has suggested that the sentencing will take place on October 3. The date can be brought forward if Combs' defense lawyers request it, writes CNN.
The charges Combs has been acquitted of include what is called "racketeering" in American law. It is a crime committed as part of organized crime.
The jurors had asked for more time on Tuesday to reach an agreement on this point.
The prosecution believes that Combs' employees facilitated his abuse by booking hotel rooms for wild sex parties - so-called "freak offs" - and providing illegal drugs for the parties.
Two of Combs' former girlfriends - including singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura - have testified in the case and said that he subjected them to both physical and sexual violence.
Combs was arrested in September last year.
34 people have testified against him during the case, which has been ongoing since May 5.
Combs' defense attorneys acknowledge that the rapper has at times been violent in his relationships. But they have stressed that the sexual activity described by the prosecution was voluntary.
Combs himself was not on the witness stand during the approximately eight-week trial.
When the verdict was handed down on Wednesday, Combs knelt and appeared to say a prayer, Reuters and other media outlets present in the courtroom in New York reported.
He then turned and looked out at the people gathered in the room, including his adult children.
- I'll be home soon, he said with a smile.
- I love you. Thank you, he continued.
Later in the day, Judge Arun Subramanian denied a request for Combs to be released on bail prior to sentencing in the case.
The criminal case in New York is not the only case against him. There are also several civil lawsuits against the rapper from women and men accusing him of assault.
In total, over 120 people have accused Combs of assault.
/ritzau/
