Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

Subramanian said Combs' actions were more than that of a simple consumer of prostitution, like the defence had claimed

"You were no John," he said, using a phrase that refers to a client of a sex worker. "You were more than that."

The coerced commercial sex acts brought Combs sexual gratification instead of money, he said, but that did decrease the severity of his actions.

The judge also said he was not convinced Combs would not repeat his crimes if he was released.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

The judge addressed Combs at length before handing down the 50-month sentence.

He said he considered that Combs is a self-made artist, that he has been charitable and lifted up the black community, and that he has deep ties to his family.

But he rejected the defence's portrayal of his relationships with Cassie and Jane as intimate and consensual.

"You abused them, physically, emotionally and psychologically," he said.

He added that both women had trauma that will last a lifetime.

He said the length of the conduct being over a decade also warranted a significant sentence.

"You had the money and the power to keep it going," he said. "This was subjugation."

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

Judge Arun Subramanian has sentenced Sean Combs to 50 months in prison. That's four years and two months.

He says this sentence is fair to account for the severity of Combs’ crimes and the mitigating factors.

Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

The judge says the evidence the court has seen against Combs is "massive".

He references the "savage video" of Combs beating Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway, and photos of "gashes and bruises".

He says a significant sentence is required in order to be a deterrence, and to send a message.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from outside court

A large crowd has gathered across the street from the courthouse as we wait for the judge’s sentence.

Passersby are stopping and asking what’s going on. Some have joined in to watch.

Reporters and onlookers are beginning to spill out into the street as traffic picks up and cars honk.

Judge Arun Subramanian is at the bench and is now speaking.

He tells Combs that the court has to consider all of his history.

Stick with us, the sentence should be announced very soon.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from court

Combs tells the judge that if he gives him another chance, he won't let him down.

He ends by saying he would never jeopardise being in this situation again, or being away from his family again.

"That’s my deterrence," he says.

Now the court is taking a quick break. We expect the sentence soon, and will keep you updated.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Combs turns to address the judge directly, saying: "I ask your honour for mercy. I beg your honour for mercy."

Prosecutors have said he is not remorseful, and Combs refutes that claim.

"I don’t have nobody to blame but myself," he says. "I know that I’ve learned my lesson."

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Along with apologising to Cassie Ventura and his family, Combs apologises to Jane, saying "I didn’t mean to hurt you, I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess."

"My actions were disgusting, shameful, and sick," he says.

Now, he says he is taking responsibility for his actions.

"I got lost in excess, I got lost in my ego," he tells the judge.

Combs says "I want to apologise to my seven children". He turns to face them and says all of their names.

"I’m so sorry. They deserved better."

He turns to his mother Janice, and says sorry to her as well.

Combs starts by thanking the judge for giving him the chance to "finally speak up for myself".

He apologises to "all the victims of domestic violence".

"I want to personally apologise again to Cassie Ventura," he says.

He also apologises to Jane Doe, who testified in the trial under a pseudonym.

"I didn’t mean to hurt you," he says.

Sean Combs is now addressing the judge. He's expected to be the final person to speak and then the judge will decide on the sentence.

Combs did not testify during his trial, and only spoke briefly to the judge at the very end, thanking him.

This is the first time we've heard him speak about his case.

Stick with us, we will bring you the details as they happen.

The prosecution has just finished their rebuttal after a long list of speakers for the defence.

They call Combs a "master puppeteer" of his own image, and say that image of wealth and power he portrays is not the real thing.

We're now taking a short break and Combs himself will then speak.

Stick with us.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from court

Marc Agnifilio, one of Combs’ lawyers, is returning to arguments we've heard throughout the day, painting Combs’ issues as the result of a mental health problem and from drug use.

Agnifilio also repeats the argument that Combs has already suffered enough - through the storm of publicity, serving jail time, his home being raided, loss of privacy, and his business losses.

He urges the judge to, as he says, not give Combs a light sentence, but a sentence that gets to the root of problem. He recommends that the sentence include mental health treatment, a domestic violence program, and a drug program where Combs is routinely tested.

Up next is the prosecution once again, and then we will hear from Combs himself.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

Was Sean Combs a pimp? This seems to be a central question of the day, and a legal expert tells me it could influence the sentence.

The defence has asserted several times that "Combs was not a pimp" because he did not make money prostituting women. Rather, they want him to be seen as a John - a consumer of prostitution.

Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow told me that "the government wants the judge to look at the harsher sentences given in Mann Act cases to pimps who — motivated by profits — caused victims to engage in prostitution through violence, force, coercion, fear, or manipulation."

"Johns" have no profit motive and typically receive lighter sentences

"The judge’s decision on this issue will make a big difference on whether he gives a harsh or lenient sentence to Combs," he says.

Reminder: the Mann Act, passed in 1910, criminalised transporting women and girls for "the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose."

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

A "release plan" is in place to rehabilitate Combs, the defence says.

Speaking now is Giovanni Sairras, who works with Re Entry One, a nonprofit dedicated to getting released criminals back into society.

Sairras says people who participate in programmes in jail are less likely to fall back into criminal behaviour. He says that Combs is an "asset to the government", and he will inspire other incarcerated people to improve their lives.

As we reported earlier, the group intends to have Combs teach entrepreneurship and life skills classes in Florida based on a course he designed and has been leading while in jail. The first class is scheduled for Monday.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from court

Rev. Gary Johnson, a chaplain in the Miami Police Department, has finished making a statement urging the judge to give Combs the opportunity to do charity work with him, and says he will be responsible personally for Combs’ rehabilitation.

"You free his body, we’ll free his mind," Johnson says.

As we reported earlier, Combs is planning to work with the group RE Entry, teaching life skills and entrepreneurship to convicts about to be released as well as other at-risk groups.

Following Johnson, defence lawyer Xavier Donaldson reiterates the call for a 14-month sentence.

He says the "enormous" collateral damage of Combs’ conviction - damage to his family and to his business - is punishment enough. He says that, although Combs was once wealthy, he claims he no longer is.

Image source, Getty Images

Leading Combs' defence is Marc Agnifilo, a lawyer who has experience defending high-profile cases. Agnifilo previously defended cult leader Keith Raniere, convicted fraudster Martin Shkreli, and former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng.

He's also currently representing Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering a health insurance CEO in New York City. Karen Agnifilo, Marc's wife, is also representing Mangione.

Agnifilo's second chair on the case is Teny Geragos, the daughter of famous celebrity attorney Mark Geragos.

Brian Steel, who we just heard from, recently represented rapper Young Thug in Georgia.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Image source, Reuters

Brian Steel continues his impassioned bid to the judge for a 14-month sentence for Combs, which would essentially amount to time already served.

He pushes back against prosecutors' claim that Combs is unrepentant.

Combs is "completely broken", Steel says.

He suggests that Combs can use his experience in prison to educate others about the dangers of breaking the law.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

The crowd outside the courthouse is getting antsy.

Some of the rowdy Combs supporters who showed up earlier today in full force expecting to hear the verdict seem to be tiring out and leaving. We still have a while to go in court today.

We may hear from more character witnesses and lawyers, and then Combs himself is slated to speak. Stick with us.