Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team attempted to halt his criminal trial on Wednesday by calling for a mistrial, but Judge Arun Subramanian quickly denied the request.
The motion came after arson investigator Lance Jimenez testified about fingerprint evidence from a 2011 trespassing incident at rapper Kid Cudi’s home. Jimenez told the court he collected prints for comparison in the 2012 arson case involving Cudi’s car, but noted that an LAPD officer allegedly destroyed the prints.
Diddy’s defense argued that the prosecution was unfairly linking him to the incident without clear evidence, calling the claims misleading. The judge agreed to remove the testimony from the record but stated it was not enough to sway the jury unfairly. Prosecutor Christy Slavik supported the ruling, calling the mistrial request “absolutely unwarranted.”
After the break, Judge Subramanian clearly told the jury to disregard the fingerprint testimony, saying it was irrelevant to Diddy or the current charges.
Ongoing Trial and Serious Charges
The trial, now in its 11th day, continues to draw national attention. Diddy faces five serious charges, including:
- One count of racketeering conspiracy
- Two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion
- Two counts of transportation for prostitution
Testimonies have come from several big names including Cassie, Kid Cudi, and Dawn Richard. Cassie, who is currently pregnant, gave emotional and detailed accounts of abuse, describing physical assaults and disturbing “freak-off” events. On Tuesday, she reportedly went into labor and was rushed to the hospital.
The case could lead to a life sentence if Diddy is found guilty.
