In Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ ongoing criminal hearing, witnesses have played a crucial role in keeping the suspect behind bars without the possibility of being bailed out. One witness, P. Diddy’s ex-assistant, has provided extensive testimony to the court, but the former rapper’s legal team has cast doubt on her stories by bringing up social media posts that she made herself.
Court records show that Diddy’s defense attorney Brian Steel asked the witness about Instagram posts that speak lovingly about the alleged perpetrator after he reportedly raped her. In some of the posts, the woman called Diddy “my brother,” “friend for life,” and “my mentor”. In one specific post that was from 2013, the victim was featured giving birth to a fake baby with Diddy playing the role of a doctor. In the caption of this post, the victim wrote “Shout out to my mentor. Thank you for always letting me give birth to my dreams.”
This post was made years after an alleged attack that the victim claims happened in 2009. The victim said Diddy forcibly kissed her and raped her at his birthday party. Then, she said many more sexual assaults happened numerous times over several years.
In another social media post, the victim wrote “love you” to Diddy and also thanked him for “continuing to inspire me every day.”
As part of the questioning process, Diddy’s defense attorney asked why the victim made such positive posts about someone who committed such atrocities against her. The victim, who is going by the false name “Mia” in court, testified that she used Instagram to highlight the “highs” of her life and also make posts to show how great her life was even if it wasn’t true.
Mia reportedly worked as Diddy’s assistant from 2009 to 2017. Due to the way she was treated, she now claims she can’t work due to extensive trauma.
Mia also confirmed to police that she was contacted by one of Diddy’s former bodyguards days after Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie, filed a lawsuit against him. Mia confirmed that the bodyguard only reached out to her to try to get her in touch with Diddy.
How Accurate is Eyewitness Testimony?
Eyewitness testimony is not always entirely accurate, especially because a witness’s perception of events may not entirely align with reality. As a result of this, it’s very common for eyewitness testimony to be highly scrutinized in court when used as evidence.
In Diddy’s trial, eyewitness testimony has been critical. That said, it’s not surprising that his defense attorney is employing several strategies to cast doubt on Mia’s claims.
In similar cases, a defense attorney can try to cast doubt on eyewitness testimony by highlighting how fallible memories are, pointing out inconsistencies in statements, exploring biases, and presenting contradictory evidence. These strategies can cast doubt on the validity and strength of a person’s testimony.
Are you currently weighing out your best strategies for defending yourself in court? If you’re in New York or a nearby area, then we can help. Contact our team now to talk about your case in more detail.
