O.J. Simpson‘s attorneys have praise from Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ lawyers for the way they handled the rapper’s defense in his criminal sex trial.
In a recent interview, they highlighted how smart a move it was to ensure Diddy did not take the stand to testify, hinting it was critical to the verdict.
However, despite Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial outcome, the judge still denied his request for bail because of his “propensity for violence.”
O.J. Simpson’s Lawyers Claim Diddy’s Team Did A ‘Terrific Job’
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O.J. Simpson’s legal team, comprising Robert Shapiro and Alan Dershowitz, has lauded the defense strategy adopted by Diddy’s lawyers, specifically praising them for keeping the music mogul off the witness stand.
During a chat with Fox News Digital, Shapiro, who represented Simpson in his 1995 murder trial, and Dershowitz, who acted as an advisor, praised Diddy’s lawyers for successfully arguing that the case was about “voluntary adult choices.”
“The defense team did a terrific job on a case the U.S. Attorney overcharged,” Shapiro told the news outlet on Thursday, crediting them for convincing a jury that Diddy was not guilty of the RICO charge. “An acquittal in Federal Court is highly unusual.”
Dershowitz also shared the same sentiment, telling the news outlet that it was a wise choice for Diddy’s lawyers, led by Teny Geragos and Marc Agnifilo, to mirror the same tactic used in Simpson’s trial.
“Ultimately, the smart decision was not putting O.J. on the witness stand,” he told the outlet. “The smart decision here was not putting Combs on the witness stand.”
O.J. Simpson’s Lawyer Says The Diddy Verdict Meant It Was A ‘Good Day For Justice’
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While still speaking about Diddy’s trial, Dershowitz commended the lawyers for a job well done, saying: “[Diddy’s team] got a partial victory, but an almost complete victory, so I commend them for excellent work.”
The former Harvard law professor added, “I think this was a good day for justice today, and it showed the power of juries to stand up against the federal government. And that’s a necessary check on the excesses of prosecutors.”
The commendation comes after the “Bad Boy For Life” rapper was found not guilty on the most severe charges of racketeering and sex trafficking but was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
He never took the witness stand during his criminal trial, thereby sidestepping potentially damaging cross-examination that could have swayed the jury.
Will Diddy Get Prison Time For His Prostitution Charges?
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Like Diddy, Simpson never took the stand in his criminal trial before he was eventually acquitted of the brutal 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.
However, Simpson was found liable for the wrongful death of Nicole and Goldman and was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages to the victims’ families.
The former Buffalo Bills player still bagged a jail term as he was later convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping after he and other men stole sports memorabilia at gunpoint from a Las Vegas Hotel.
In December 2008, he was sentenced to 33 years in jail with the possibility of parole after 9 years, but was eventually released in 2017.
Now, with Diddy’s mixed verdict, it is yet to be seen if the rapper will be sentenced to jail for two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Each count carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, which means Diddy could be sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison.
Male Escort Hired By Diddy Agrees With The Jury’s Mixed Verdict
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Like Simpson’s lawyers, a former male escort who Diddy hired for his “freak offs” with Cassie has also praised the jury’s verdict.
Sharay Hayes, a.k.a “The Punisher,” told the Daily Mail that the jury made the right call, adding that although the rapper was a “terrible partner,” the prosecution didn’t do enough to convict him of the more serious charges.
“Honestly, I think today was the proper verdict. I think the jury’s decision was the right one based on the law,” he told the news outlet. “Was he a terrible partner? Yes, absolutely. He did a lot of things that I’m sure everyone would agree was heinous behavior.”
“But that doesn’t mean they proved the case that he was guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering. You can’t convict someone just for being a bad person,” he added.
The Music Mogul Was Denied Bail Despite Being Found Not Guilty Of The Top Charges
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Following nearly 2 months of court sessions, Diddy was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges but convicted of two counts of lesser prostitution-related offenses.
He faces up to 10 years in jail for each count, but his lawyer believes he’ll get a lesser punishment ahead of his sentencing, which has been slated for October this year.
The Bad Boy Records founder, however, has been denied bail and will remain incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he has been held since his arrest in September 2024.
Speaking on the judge denying the rapper bail, Dershowitz said the move was “vindictive and wrong,” adding that Diddy was “convicted of transactional, consensual sex with two adults.”
