The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is set to begin on Monday. He denies the charges of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. So what should we expect at the start?Criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent explains how lawyers for the prosecution and defence will be making their opening statements as persuasive as possible.Veteran sketch artist Jane Rosenberg shares her four decades of courtroom experience with presenter Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. She will be in court most days, drawing sketches of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs for the world to see.The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theories, and give you the answers that you need.We also want YOU to be part of the conversation. Have you any burning questions about the cases or the upcoming trial? Heard a theory that doesn’t sit right with you? Get in touch now via WhatsApp: 0330 123 555 1.Presenter: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series producer: Laura Jones Sound design: Richard Hannaford Senior digital producer: Matthew Pintus Video producer: Daniel Raza Production coordinator: Hattie Valentine Editor: Clare FordhamCommissioning editor: Rhian Roberts Assistant commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning producer: Adam Eland Commissioning assistant producer: Rechmial Miller
Full Episode
BBC Sounds. Music, radio, podcasts. Hello and welcome back to Diddy on Trial from BBC Sounds with me, Anushka Matandadauti. The trial is set to start in four days, and this week, inside the court in the Southern District of New York, the group of people responsible for making a decision about whether Diddy is guilty or not are being selected.
Reminder, Diddy is accused of sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution, and RICO. If convicted, he could end up spending the rest of his life behind bars. But he has consistently denied all the allegations. Soon, it will be the jury's turn to see all the evidence, hear weeks of testimony, witness careful cross-examinations, and finally... deliberate and decide.
But before that, the first thing they will hear is opening statements from the prosecution and the defence. So if first impressions are everything, they better get this right. Joining me today to give us the recipe for the best opening statements is our criminal defence attorney, Sean Kent. Hi, Sean.
Hey, how are you doing?
I'm good. I mean, I spoke to you last night. I didn't realize this was your complete area of expertise and you teach other lawyers how to write opening and closing statements. First of all, before we get into the recipe for a great one, what makes a terrible opening statement?
Length, if you go entirely too long, and we always tell lawyers, if you go way too long and you bore the jury, because don't forget, the jury are just people. If you've ever been watching a movie or anything about legal shows, they can get to their point very succinctly and very quickly, and the jury's expecting the same thing.
An opening statement is just your opportunity from the prosecution standpoint to say, this is what we intend on proving. The defense standpoint is really it's sort of like a handshake. If you ever walked into a club or walked into a bar the first time you've met somebody, it's can I make you like me in a very short, quick period of time? And so that's really the point.
Prosecution is trying to say this is why we're going to win. Defense is trying to say this is why you should like me and listen.
So does the defense need to make it a bit more emotional, emotional?
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