Rapper and music producer, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, is set to stand trial next week in relation to two charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, along with a charge of racketeering conspiracy and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs has denied all charges against him and has pleaded not guilty.
With jury selection slated for 5 May, further details of the upcoming trial have emerged including that the judge has granted Combs special permission to wear his own clothes while taking the stand in court.
There are, however, some limitations on what he's able to wear. As well as not being allowed to wear shoes with laces (which could pose a health risk), Combs is restricted to "five button down shirts, up to five pairs of pants, up to five sweaters, up to five pairs of socks, and up to two pairs of shoes" for his court dates, as reported by E!
During a previous court appearance, Combs appeared wearing a prison-issued jumpsuit and his hair seemed to have gone grey in parts (based on artist sketches of the day), however there wasn't a jury present for that.
Often those on trial, including those being held in prison, are allowed to wear their own clothes so as not to subliminally influence a jury's decision.
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The thinking is that seeing someone in a prison uniform could make them appear more guilty, impacting on the right to a fair trial.
Opening statements in the trial are expected to begin on 12 May, this will be when both sides are giving the chance to set out their arguments and put forward their evidence.
Because Combs' case is a criminal one and not a civil one, the prosecution will set out its argument first, hoping to prove Combs is guilty of the accused crimes beyond all reasonable doubt.
When defending, Combs and his team will be trying to convince the jury that there is not enough solid evidence for a jury to feel confident in returning a guilty verdict.
If found guilty, Combs could face a life sentence.
Outside of this criminal case, Combs is also dealing with more than 20 civil lawsuits (which, according to high-profile lawyer, Tony Buzbee, who is representing some claimants, could eventually include hundreds more in future). Again, Combs has denied any wrongdoing.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
