Sean Combs is accusing the New York prosecutor’s office of editing a video to make him look dangerous. Attorneys for the jailed music mogul claim prosecutors showed the judge an edited version of the Cassie beating video.
Combs’ third bond hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. at a Manhattan courthouse on Friday, Nov. 22. He has asked the judge to release him on $50 million bond with restrictions that include around-the-clock security at his Star Island home in Miami.
Combs’ legal team amended his $50 million bond proposal to include regular drug testing and no female visitors.
The video – which was leaked by CNN in May – shows Combs, wearing only a white towel around his waist, punching, kicking, and throwing the R&B singer to the floor at a hotel in March 2016.
Federal prosecutors have cited the video as evidence that Combs was sex trafficking Cassie. Prosecutors intend to use the video as proof that Combs is a danger to the public and he should not be released on bond.
But attorneys for Combs argued the prosecution used a “manipulated version” of the video footage and “invented” the narrative being told in court, ABC News reported.
The defense said the video did not show a “freak off”, but instead showed a domestic dispute in which the rapper chased Cassie down the hallway to recover his stolen cellphone and clothing.
Cassie is seen in the video carrying a designer handbag and a man’s backpack.
In a legal victory for Combs this week, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled the prosecution could not use handwritten notes taken from Combs’ jail cell in their argument against granting bail. The judge asked prosecutors to explain why Combs should not be released on bond when they allowed a $10 million bond for former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries who faces similar sex crimes.
Combs’ lawyers will call a video expert to the witness stand to testify about his analysis of the edited video.
The legal team submitted a 20-minute video to the court under seal to be viewed at the bond hearing. The video was prepared by an expert witness in forensic video analysis.
