Prosecutors barred from consulting potentially incriminating notes seized from Sean 'Diddy' Combs' jail cell

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Prosecutors barred from consulting potentially incriminating notes seized from Sean 'Diddy' Combs' jail cell

时间：2024-11-20 09:00 来源：未知作者：admin 阅读：次

If convicted, Sean Combs faces up to life in prison.

In short:

A US judge has ordered prosecutors in the case against Sean "Diddy" Combs to destroy their copies of handwritten notes taken from his jail cell.

Prosecutors say the notes discussed Mr Combs paying a potential witness.

What's next?

District Judge Arun Subramanian will consider arguments from the prosecution and defence to decide whether they can be used as evidence against the rapper.

A judge has ordered prosecutors to destroy their copies of handwritten notes taken from Sean "Diddy" Combs' jail cell, pending a decision on whether they can be used as evidence in the disgraced rapper's sex trafficking trial.

Prosecutors with the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan say the notes discussed Mr Combs paying a potential witness, which demonstrates that he was trying to obstruct justice.

But lawyers for Mr Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, argue they were subject to lawyer-client privilege, a legal doctrine that safeguards confidential communications between lawyers and their clients.

During a hearing in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, local time, District Judge Arun Subramanian said prosecutors should not consult the notes while he considers both arguments.

"Get rid of them," he instructed the prosecutors.

Mr Combs' defence lawyers said prosecutors had engaged in "outrageous government conduct" by using the materials to try to keep him incarcerated ahead of his trial in May.

"This is a matter of grave concern that, most respectfully, must be addressed immediately," they told Judge Subramanian, who has already scheduled a bail hearing for Mr Combs for on Friday.

Prosecutors responded to the claims saying the inspection of Mr Combs' cell was part of a jail-wide, safety-related sweep that was planned before his arrest and properly carried out with an investigator.

"The information at issue is not protected," prosecutor Mary Slavik said at the hearing.

They added that any potentially privileged materials were viewed first by a "filter team" of government lawyers not working on the case, tasked with weeding out any communications protected by lawyer-client privilege so that trial prosecutors couldn't see them.

The judge said he would keep a copy of the notes until he determines whether prosecutors have a right to use them to build their case.

He said a separate team within the US Attorney's office responsible for screening documents for lawyer-client privilege could keep them.

Mr Combs was arrested in September, accused of using his business empire, including record label Bad Boy Entertainment, to transport women and male sex workers across state lines to take part in recorded performances called "Freak Offs".

Ms Slavik said prosecutors were still investigating and may bring more charges.

The music mogul is scheduled to go on trial starting on May 5 on three felony counts: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prosecution.

Mr Combs' lawyers have said the sexual activity described in the indictment was consensual.

Separately, Mr Combs is seeking to be released on $50 million bail backed by his $48 million Florida mansion and co-signed by several family members.

He has been denied bail three times, with multiple judges citing a risk that he might tamper with witnesses.

AP/Reuters

By：ABC

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