The sentence was handed down in New York after an eleventh hour plea for leniency from Combs’s defence attorney Nicole Westmoreland. “Mr Combs is not larger than life, he’s just a human being,” Westmoreland said. “He’s just a man and he’s made some mistakes. He has flaws like we all do. Your honour, he gets it, plain and simple.”An impression of Sean “Diddy” Combs in court during his trial in July.
Despite that, Judge Arun Subramanian said the court had to consider all of Combs’s history. “A history of good works can’t wash away the record in this case, which shows that you abused the power and control over the lives of women who you professed to love,” he said.
In sentencing Combs to 50 months in prison, Subramanian said he was inclined to give Combs a “meaningful” sentence, but that the 11-year sentence sought by the prosecution was “not reasonable”.
In July, Combs, 55, was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, related to his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura and a victim identified only as “Jane”. Two other charges, racketeering and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, were dismissed.
Each count of transportation carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; had Combs received the maximum penalty to be served consecutively, he could have been jailed for up to 20 years.
Combs appeared in the Federal District Court in Manhattan for sentencing, supported by members of his family, including his mother, Janice Combs. When Combs entered the courtroom, he quietly waved to family members and hugged his attorneys.
Before sentencing, Combs addressed the court saying that he had lost the opportunity to raise his children, and take care of his mother. “Most of all, I lost my self-respect,” he said. “I hate myself right now. I’ve been stripped down to nothing.” Addressing his mother directly, Combs said: “You taught me better
“I want your honour to know that, given a chance, people can change,” Combs added. “I beg your honour for mercy. I’ve got nobody to blame but myself. I know that I will never put my hands on another person again. These are not excuses. I can’t change the past, but I can change the future. No matter what anyone says, I know I’m truly sorry for it all.”
Unusually, given America’s predilection for televised celebrity trials, Combs’s sentencing hearing was not broadcast, and no photography or video was permitted. Judge Subramanian placed a similar restriction on the trial, earlier this year.
Despite that, there was a lively exchange of final arguments over the fate of the disgraced rapper. Combs’s defence attorney Brian Steel made a passionate plea to Judge Subramanian to consider “the great trauma in Sean’s life,” referring to the death of Combs’s father, and “a ferocious drug addiction that got out of hand.”
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