Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

We’re only minutes into prosecutors’ arguments, Combs watching quietly in his cream sweater, as the government tries to push its racketeering case.

They say he used "loyal employees" to help carry out his crimes.

The first sentences of their arguments reference a "criminal enterprise".

"He wouldn’t take no for an answer," prosecutor Christy Slavik also says over and over.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Prosecutors have just begun their closing arguments, with Christy Slavic at the podium. "You’ve learned a lot about Sean Combs," she says. "He’s the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn’t take no for an answer."

Slavik says the "brutal crimes at the heart of the case" are sex trafficking.

She alleges the rapper used fear and violence to force Jane and Cassie Ventura to have unwanted sex with male escorts.

She brings the jury back to the video of Combs beating Ventura in the hallway of a hotel in Los Angeles, alleging this took place when Ventura tried to leave a so-called "freak-off".

The jury has entered the courtroom and closing arguments have begun.

Prosecutor Christy Slavik is presenting the government's case.

Image source, SARAH YENESEL/EPA/Shutterstock

We are expecting opening arguments to begin in about 5-10 minutes.

Outside the New York courthouse, some of Combs' family members were photographed as they arrived.

Combs' mother and several of his children have frequently attended court to watch proceedings over the past six weeks.

Image source, SARAH YENESEL/EPA/Shutterstock

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Image source, REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

Warning: This page contain details some readers may find distressing

A key witness for the prosecutors was Cassie Ventura, a musician and model known as Cassie. She testified for days about her abusive, on-and-off 11-year relationship with Sean Combs.

Eight months pregnant and often speaking through tears, Ventura testified that Combs beat and coerced her into so-called freak-offs, during which she would have sex with male escorts as he watched and filmed.

Prosecutors allege Combs used drugs, violence and manipulation to pressure several women into unwanted sexual encounters with male escorts.

Ventura's testimony - delivered when she was weeks away from giving birth - was critical to prosecutors' allegations that Combs committed sex trafficking, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Some of the strongest evidence was a surveillance video of Combs beating Ventura in the hallway of a hotel after a so-called "freak-off", and the testimony of a hotel security guard who said Combs offered him money to get rid of the tape. Prosecutors also displayed photos of Ventura's many injuries, allegedly from the rapper's abuse.

If convicted on the racketeering charge, Combs faces up to life in prison.

He faces another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years if he is found guilty of sex trafficking.

Transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Combs has denied all charges against him.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty
Podcast host, Diddy on Trial

The BBC's Diddy on Trial podcast has followed every twist and turn in Diddy’s case since November 2024.

From bombshell allegations of so-called "freak-offs", to testimony from Grammy-winning rapper Kid Cudi, there have been headline-making moments every week.

We're bringing you all the updates straight from court in New York.

You can listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds or watch on our YouTube channel, external.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Good morning from Manhattan federal court.

We’re nearing the end of Sean Combs' sex trafficking trial, and to wrap things up, today we’ll hear the government make its final case to a panel of 12 New York jurors.

The arguments are expected to last four hours, and will build on the testimony we’ve heard from over 30 witnesses in their case. The government will likely keep pushing its main point - that Combs used his celebrity influence and power to coerce women into drug-fuelled unwanted sex acts.

They also have to hammer home the racketeering part of their case, in which they accuse the rapper of relying on a loyal circle of employees to facilitate this alleged sex trafficking and to help cover up his crimes.

Legal experts say the racketeering charge is the most complicated - and perhaps the weakest - part of their case, so we can expect to see them working harder to connect the dots between Combs, his employees and his alleged crimes.

Image source, Reuters

Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing charges that include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

If he’s convicted, he could face life in prison.

Some of the most severe allegations fall under the racketeering charge, which includes accusations of drugging and coercing women into sex, and threatening them with firearms or violence.

He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of closing arguments in the criminal trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.

After 34 witnesses giving testimony over six weeks, the prosecution rested its case against the hip-hop mogul earlier this week.

Diddy's attorneys wrapped up their case with a defence lasting under 20 minutes.

Now it's time for closing arguments, where each side will try to get their main points to the 12 members of the jury.

The burden of proof lies with the government, so it has to convince the jury of their case against Combs. The defence will be trying to poke holes in testimony from witnesses.

First up will be the prosecution. We are expecting them to begin at 10:00 local time (15:00 BST).

Stick with us as we cover the latest from the courtroom in New York City.