A former Syracuse College basketball participant who labored not too long ago for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as a private assistant testified on the music mogul’s intercourse trafficking trial on Friday that Combs acquired “extraordinarily artistic” when he was on medication.
Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested final 12 months at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he testified with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a 12 months and a half. Paul was arrested in March 2024 – the identical day federal brokers performed a number of searches associated to the Combs’ investigation.
Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of testimony from an array of witnesses starting from ex-girlfriends and former workers to male intercourse staff and the rapper Kid Cudi. Ye, previously often known as Kanye West, even made a surprise appearance on the courthouse.
The prosecution seeks to persuade the jury that Combs oversaw a sprawling racketeering enterprise for twenty years that relied on obedience by workers keen to do something for him, together with shopping for medication when essential.
Protection attorneys say Combs didn’t commit federal crimes, though they acknowledge that prosecutors have uncovered home violence throughout the trial. After pleading not responsible following his September arrest at a Manhattan lodge, Combs has been held with out bail at a federal lockup in Brooklyn.
Prosecutors have been anticipated to relaxation their case by Monday. A protection presentation is anticipated to final from two to 5 days.
Paul stated he purchased medication for Combs between 5 and 10 instances, spending as much as $500 for medication together with cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana.
He stated he solely did medication with Combs as soon as, when Combs requested him to attempt “tusi”, also called pink cocaine, to see if it was good.
Paul stated he did so as a result of he “wished to show my loyalty” and stated he thought it was good.
“We continued on with our evening,” he informed assistant US lawyer Christy Slavic.
Paul stated that previous to his arrest, he had forgotten concerning the cocaine after amassing it whereas “sweeping” Combs’ room that morning and had by chance left it in a bag he carried as he ready to go on trip with Combs and different aides. The costs have been dismissed after Paul accomplished a pretrial diversion program.
Below questioning by protection lawyer Brian Metal, Paul stated his “coronary heart dropped” when he realized that there was cocaine in a journey bag after telling officers on the airport that every little thing within the bag belonged to him.
Metal requested Paul if Combs was usually completely satisfied and didn’t damage anybody when he was on medication.
“He acquired extraordinarily artistic,” Paul responded.
At one other level, Metal requested the witness: “You wouldn’t work for a felony, would you?”
“Completely not,” Paul responded.
Slavic, although, elicited Paul’s blended emotions about Combs when the prosecutor requested him simply earlier than he completed his testimony: “Sitting right here at this time, how do you are feeling about Mr Combs?”
“It’s difficult,” he answered.
Paul, initially from Cleveland, was a 6ft 2in guard who walked on at Syracuse College and got here off the bench in 16 video games over two seasons, taking part in a complete of 17 minutes and scored simply three factors. He later transferred to lower-tier Fairmont State College in West Virginia, the place he performed for 2 extra seasons.
