Diddy praises judge and chooses not to testify as trial draws to a close

Prosecutors and defence lawyers have rested their cases in the sex-trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, bringing more than six weeks of testimony against the hip-hop mogul to a close.

The high-profile trial has heard from more than 30 witnesses, including the rapper's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, as well as former employees of his company Bad Boy Entertainment, male escorts, law enforcement officers and hotel staff. But one person jurors won't hear from is Combs himself.

Confirming this to Judge Arun Subramanian, the rapper said he had discussed the issue of testifying "thoroughly" with his team and made the decision not to give evidence. He also thanked the judge and told him he was doing an "excellent job".

Diddy trial: As it happened After the prosecution rested, the defence team moved for the judge to acquit the 55-year-old - a fairly standard move - saying attorneys for the government had not provided evidence to prove any of the charges filed. They then presented a brief case themselves, submitting more text messages as evidence to show Combs and his girlfriends were in loving, consensual relationships, and making a few stipulations about testimony, but calling no witnesses.

This lasted for less than an hour. They have previously conceded Combs has been violent in the past, something he is "not proud" of, but said this did not make him a sex trafficker.

Combs has remained in jail without bail since he was arrested in New York in September last year. Throughout the trial, defence lawyers have made their case for exoneration through their questioning of witnesses called by the prosecution, including several who gave evidence reluctantly or after they were granted immunity to testify.

Prosecutors argue Combs coerced and forced Cassie and another former girlfriend, who testified under the pseudonym Jane, into "freak off" sex sessions with male escorts, and used his business empire to facilitate these, as well as drug use, and cover up bad behaviour. During the first week of the trial, Cassie, 38, spent four days giving evidence.

Heavily pregnant at the time, she told jurors she felt pressured to take part in hundreds of "freak offs" with male sex workers as Combs watched. She told the court they became so frequent during their relationship, which began in 2007 and ended in 2018, that they were "like a job.