Puff Daddy In Court

Jan. 16 -- Hip hop mogul Sean “Puffy” Combs’ faces what could be his toughest round of critics yet — a jury.

Just over a year after a shooting incident in New York City landed him in trouble, the singer, producer and founder of Bad Boy Entertainment heads into court charged with illegal weapons possession and allegedly trying to bribe a witness. The trial was to have started Jan. 8, but was postponed.

On Dec. 27, 1999, at the Club New York, shots that injured three people were fired after a patron reportedly threw money in Combs' face. Bad Boy recording artist Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, who arrived with Combs' party, allegedly pulled the trigger, and is currently facing three counts of attempted murder.

Combs; his girlfriend, singer-actress Jennifer Lopez; and bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones fled the scene in a sport utility vehicle, driven by chauffeur Wardel Fenderson.

Police who stopped them claimed that one firearm had been thrown from the vehicle, and a second was found on the floor of the passenger seat. Combs is also charged with allegedly offering Fenderson $50,000 and a diamond ring to claim ownership of the gun found in the vehicle.

The Grammy winner pleaded not guilty to the charges, and will be tried along with Barrow and Jones, despite his request in May to be tried individually.

Stop the Presses

Combs' high profile personality has the proceedings under close watch in the media. His hip hop empire includes his record label, clothing line and restaurants in New York and Atlanta. Lawyers on both sides of the case are concerned leaks to the press will damage their chances in court.

Earlier this month the New York Daily News ran a pair of stories citing one prosecution witness who said Combs had a gun the night of the shooting, and another secret witness who would testify that Combs fired a shot into the ceiling of the club. Combs has also been discussing his story and gave several interviews to assert his innocence.