Diddy’s defense lasted just 23 minutes after he decided not to testify – but charmed the judge while addressing the court.
The hip-hop mogul told Judge Arun Subramanian that he was doing an ‘excellent job’ as he declared he would not give evidence.
Instead Diddy’s lawyers took less than half an hour to read nine sets of text messages and two stipulations into the record.
The quickfire defense came after prosecutors spent more than six weeks laying out their case against Diddy.
Over 34 witnesses, prosecutors portrayed him as the head of a ‘criminal enterprise’ which covered up his ‘freak offs’ with ex-girlfriends, where they were allegedly forced to have sex with male escorts while he watched.
Closing arguments are expected to take place on Thursday in the trial of Diddy, 55.
The three-time Grammy winner denies racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Diddy’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo told the court they had ‘discussed at length’ the prospect of him giving evidence.
The hip hop mogul (pictured in sketch) told Judge Arun Subramanian that he was doing an ‘excellent job’ as he declared he would not give evidence in day 29 of his trial Tuesday
Over 34 witnesses, prosecutors portrayed him as the head of a ‘criminal enterprise’ which covered up his ‘Freak Offs’ with ex-girlfriends, where they were allegedly forced to have sex with male escorts while he watched
Diddy stood up in court as Judge Subramanian asked him: ‘Mr Combs, how are you feeling today?’
Speaking in a clear and confident voice, Diddy said: ‘I’m doing great. I wanted to tell you thank you, you’re doing an excellent job’.
Diddy denied he had taken drugs in the last 48 hours and confirmed his mind was clear, adding he had spoken to his lawyers ‘thoroughly’ about testifying.
As the judge tried to confirm Diddy had made the decision by himself, Diddy cut in and said: ‘That is solely my decision. It’s my decision with my lawyers’.
Diddy appeared at ease with his decision after the jury had been sent home for the day and was seen smiling and hugging his lawyers.
He spoke briefly to a friend in the public gallery and appeared optimistic, saying: ‘We’ll see what happens’.
Earlier the final witness for the prosecution was Joseph Cerciello, a Special Agent with the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
He walked the jury through summary charts showing text messages, hotel and flight reservations and financial records related to Freak Offs.
Diddy (pictured in sketch with his lawyer Marc Agnifilo) denied he had taken drugs in the last 48 hours and confirmed his mind was clear, adding he had spoken to his lawyers ‘thoroughly’ about testifying
Diddy’s lawyer Teny Geragos attempted to show that the charts were not exhaustive and missed out evidence that painted a different picture.
The jury heard messages sent by Jane, one of Diddy’s ex-girlfriends who testified she was forced into Freak Offs out of fear he would stop paying her rent, from September 2021.
In the messages Diddy wrote: ‘That s*** was so f****** sexy the other night damn’.
Jane replied: ‘I haven’t stopped thinking about it… Did you love it baby?
Diddy responded: ‘Loved it’ and Jane replied with a heart emoji.
Around the time of a Freak Off in December 2021, Jane messaged Kabrale, one of the male escorts who she had sex with.
Kabrale told her: ‘We had a pretty intense night’.
Jane said: ‘Def one for the books’.
Kabrale wrote: ‘Most definitely just keeps getting better and better’, followed by a smirking emoji.
In other messages from that month Jane implored Kabrale to come and see her, telling him: ‘Quick trip TMW (tomorrow) morning? Back by three’.
In other messages Jane appeared to have organized a ‘surprise’ escort for Diddy while he had organized one of his own.
The jury heard messages sent by Jane, one of Diddy’s ex-girlfriends who testified she was forced into Freak Offs out of fear he would stop paying her rent, from September 2021. (Pictured: Diddy waving when he first entered the courtroom Tuesday)
A day after a Freak Off that month, Jane messaged Diddy: ‘Still thinking about you…’ followed by a drool face emoji and a kiss emoji.
In her testimony Jane broke down in tears while claiming that Diddy threatened to release the videos of the Freak Offs.
But in texts from May 2023 she appeared to complain that he didn’t record their sessions.
Jane wrote: ‘The last time at the London (hotel) when I was super hot and you were (multiple emojis).
‘We didn’t film, you forgot it, you promised you wouldn’t’ forget’.
Diddy’s mother Janice Combs and his eldest son Justin Combs are seen walking out of court Monday
In another message Jane told Diddy that she thanked God ‘every day’ for him being in her life.
She wrote: ‘I love every single moment’.
The jury was also shown more Freak Off videos – the fourth set they have seen.
Diddy craned his neck to see the sealed footage, which was only being shown to the jury and a single computer on the prosecution bench in front of him.
Jurors were told to turn down the volume on their headphones to stop the audio being picked up by the courtroom microphones, which the judge asked to be muted.
