Lawyers for Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs requested he be allowed to appear unshackled for the all future court appearances.
The request was filed by attorney Marc Agnifilo ahead of Diddy’s scheduled court appearance in Manhattan on Tuesday for his s£x trafficking and racketeering case.
‘We write on behalf of our client, Mr. Sean Combs, to respectfully request that the Court direct the United States Marshals Service to unshackle Mr. Combs prior to bringing him into the courtroom for tomorrow’s hearing and for all future court appearances,’ the legal request said, as reported by People.
THE DEFENSE ARGUMENT
Agnifilo pointed out that Diddy, 54, was in leg shackles during his previous court appearance on October 10 ‘without any justification.’
The defense attorney claimed the shackles raised ‘paramount concern’ about ‘juror bias.’ He added the restraints also ‘interfere with the accused’s ability to communicate with his lawyer’ and go against the ‘respectful treatment of defendants.’
‘Given the press attention on the pretrial proceedings in this case, there is a substantial risk that potential jurors will learn about the shackling through the media and develop such a bias,’ Agnifio wrote.
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The hearing set for Tuesday after Diddy’s lawyers accused prosecutors on Monday of engaging in ‘outrageous government conduct’ by using materials seized from his jail cell to try to keep him incarcerated before a May trial.
The judge agreed to it though. Combs was seen flashing a big smile as he sauntered into court Tuesday, the first time he appeared without shackles around his ankles.
WHAT HAPPENED TO DIDDY?
Diddy has been held since his September arrest on charges that he coerced and abused women for years with the aid of a network of associates and employees.
An indictment accuses him of silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently seeking to be freed to house arrest through a $50 million bail package.
