19:57:08

Diddy is not ready 'to re-enter society safely or responsibly', stylist and witness tells judge

Deonte Nash, a stylist who worked with both Sean"Diddy" Combs and Cassie Ventura - and gave evidence during the trial - has also written a letter to the judge over the proposed bail before sentencing.

During his testimony, Nash detailed several incidents of alleged violence inflicted on Cassie by Combs during their relationship.

On one occasion, Diddy turned up at her LA flat,"grabbed her by the hair","kicked her" and "hit her pretty hard", he told the court. She hit her head on a bed frame and suffered a gash to her forehead and eyebrow, he added.

Nash also said Combs was violent towards him.

Now, in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, he has expressed his"grave concern" over the prospect of Combs being released from prison ahead of sentencing.

"While I appreciate the fairness you have shown throughout this proceeding, I feel compelled to be unequivocal about the danger he poses to the public and to the individuals who have risked everything by coming forward," he said."Mr Combs has a long, well-documented history of violent, coercive, and retaliatory behaviour.

"Over the years, he has repeatedly escaped meaningful accountability, and each time this has only reinforced his sense of impunity. If he is released now, I have no doubt he will see it as yet another licence to continue intimidating, threatening, and harming people who challenge or expose him."

Nash said he does not believe Combs is ready "to re-enter society safely or responsibly".

19:36:45

Cassie believes Diddy is 'likely to pose a danger', lawyer says

Doug Wigdor, who represents Cassie Ventura, has submitted a letter asking the court to deny Sean"Diddy" Combs's release on bail.

In the letter, Wigdor referenced part of the US's Bail Reform Act to say that detention is"mandatory" after convictions on the charges Combs has been found guilty of.

Cassie"believes that Mr Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community," he added.

19:31:54

Prosecutors indicate sentence could be lower than maximum of 20 years

In their letter arguing for Sean"Diddy" Combs to be denied bail, prosecutors also set out details for the sentencing range.

The charges of transportation for prostitution carry a sentence of up to 10 years each, and prosecutors earlier indicated they would be looking for the maximum sentence.

In their letter, though, they say that after preliminary calculations the sentencing range should be"at least" 51 to 63 months - so roughly four to five years in prison.

However, they go on to say guidelines may be higher than this as they have not yet had adequate time to consider all the details.

Combs has already served more than nine months in prison.

19:07:25

Diddy can't prove he is not a flight risk, or that he does not pose any danger, prosecutors say

We have now received the letter from the government to Judge Arun Subramanian, arguing their case for keeping Sean"Diddy" Combs in prison while he awaits sentence.

"Over the course of seven weeks, the jury heard evidence of the defendant's violence, interstate transportation of numerous individuals for prostitution, drug use and distribution, and attempts to escape law enforcement detection," they say.

"This conduct spanned two decades. At trial, the defendant did not walk away from these facts."

Prosecutors refer in their letter to admissions of drug use and domestic violence made by the defence during the case.

They also highlight details of federal raids on Combs's homes in March 2024, during which"law enforcement recovered narcotics and three separate firearms with defaced serial numbers", they say.

They also argue Combs"cannot meet his burden to show by clear and convincing evidence that he is not likely to flee or pose a danger to any other person or the community".

The judge will decide whether or not to grant Combs bail until his sentencing later this evening, at 10pm UK time.

18:55:30

Diddy bail hearing to take place at 10pm UK time

Some news from the court on the potential release of Sean"Diddy" Combs ahead of sentencing.

The defence team was asked to make its submission by 1pm (6pm UK time), which it has done (see previous post).

However, we have just heard the bail hearing will take place at 5pm, so 10pm here in the UK.

Prosecutors are seeking to keep Combs in prison until his sentencing.

18:51:34

Diddy has been a 'model' prisoner and obeyed the court, defence team says in letter to judge

We can now bring you details of the motion submitted by Sean"Diddy" Combs's defence team requesting his release from prison before sentencing.

They say he has been a model prisoner and presents no flight risk.

In their proposals for the conditions of release, they have suggested a $1,000,000 bond and said Combs's travel could be restricted to the Southern District of Florida, Central District of California and the Southern District of New York (to attend Court and meet with his counsel), as well as the Eastern District of New York or New Jersey to go through airports there.

He could also undergo drug-testing, they said.

"Mr Combs has obeyed the court, respected these proceedings, and demonstrated model behaviour," the lawyers' letter said.

"And today, the jury unambiguously rejected the government’s allegations that Mr Combs ran a years-long criminal enterprise or engaged in sex trafficking - the core of the government's case."

Combs's "sentencing exposure is substantially lower than when the government initially sought detention", they said, and so he should be released.

18:40:23

What has Diddy been found guilty of?

Sean"Diddy" Combs has been convicted of two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.

One of these is in relation to his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura and male sex workers, and the other is in relation to another former girlfriend, Jane*, and male sex workers.

Each carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, meaning Combs could face up to 20 years in total. However, several legal experts have said he is unlikely to get the maximum sentence, particularly as he's a first time offender.

The charges accuse Combs of"willfully" causing the transportation "of female victims and commercial sex workers in interstate and foreign commerce on multiple occasions with the intent that they engage in prostitution".

During the trial, both Cassie and Jane*, who testified using a pseudonym, told the court of"freak off" sex sessions in different states across the US.

Jurors were also shown evidence of bookings for hotels and flights for the women and for sex workers, paid for by Combs.

The jury also watched sexually explicit footage of both women engaging in sexual acts with male escorts.

All this was evidence of the charges of transportation for prostitution.

However, jurors cleared Combs of the more serious charges of sex-trafficking in relation to Cassie and Jane* - finding their allegations that they were forced and coerced into these acts were not proved.

18:32:56

Courtroom opens - could we see Diddy outside later today?

The courtroom has opened up, which means there could soon be a decision on whether or not Sean"Diddy" Combs will be released ahead of sentencing.

If he is, it could be an opportunity for cameras to capture the first public photo since his arrest in September 2024.

Combs's defence argued he should be released to his home in Miami, Florida, with conditions that include a $1 million secured bond.

Prosecutors disagreed vehemently, arguing Combs spent years violating the law.

18:11:22

Judge to decide on potential release ahead of sentencing

It's 1pm in New York and we are expecting Judge Arun Subramanian to make a decision soon on whether or not Sean"Diddy" Combs will be released on bail ahead of sentencing.

He has been in detention since his arrest in September.

However, now that he has been convicted of transportation for prostitution charges, but cleared of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking, his lawyers have argued for him to stay at his home in Florida until sentencing.

We will bring you updates on this as soon as we have some news.