Marion “Suge” Knight, an imprisoned rap icon, who for decades had a relationship filled with animosity toward Sean “Diddy” Combs, proposed that his nemesis take the stand in his own federal trial to “humanize” him, he told CNN’s Laura Coates in a brief phone interview.
And while the practice could do just that, “it’s a risky proposition,” Joey Jackson, CNN legal analyst and criminal defense attorney told CNN’s Kate Bolduan, adding Combs would “have a lot of explaining to do.”
Jackson points out that while the testimony coming out of Combs’ trial has been graphic and telling of his alleged behavior, the jury needs to hear more in order to stand up the racketeering charges against the music mogul, since that is what he is being charged with.
“When you put a defendant on the stand, it just becomes about him,” Jackson said. “The defense could make an argument saying, “This guy’s a horrible guy, but is he a racketeer? Was he engaged in a continuous course of conduct that makes him a criminal of an underboss? So that’s going to be the problem, and that’s why you may want to keep him off.”
Lisa Bonner, an attorney and former litigator, said Combs taking the stand is “the most ridiculous thing that he can do.”
“It’s just not a good idea. There’s nothing good that can come of that,” Bonner told CNN, adding that “the cross-examination would be brutal.”
Remember: Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to life in prison.
