Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared in New York Supreme Court on April 18 for a status hearing as he prepares for his federal sex crimes trial, set to begin next month. Although cameras are not permitted in federal court, renowned courtroom sketch artist Jane Rosenberg captured an image of the music mogul during the session. The sketch depicts Diddy with a head full of gray hair and a white goatee, looking slimmer than usual.
Diddy has been in custody since his September 2023 arrest on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution. Since then, he has rarely been seen in public, with the only recent footage coming from a leaked video of his arraignment in December. Courtroom sketches have been his main public appearances since.
The trial is scheduled to begin on May 12. However, Diddy’s legal team has requested a two-month delay to review additional evidence. Judge Arun Subramanian denied the request, stating, “It is unclear why there isn’t sufficient time to prepare.”
During the hearing, the judge also ruled that witnesses in the case can testify anonymously, except for Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie. Furthermore, Judge Subramanian decided that evidence related to sexual assault allegations not included in the indictment would be excluded from the trial.
Diddy’s legal battles are set to intensify next month when the trial officially starts.
