Lawyers Talked of Murder Plots in Puffy Case

March 23 -- While attorney's argued about weapons possession and bribery before the court in the trial of Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, away from the jury they discussed allegations of murder plots.

Previously confidential court transcripts, released yesterday, include allegations of murder plots against Combs and an enemy of his, The Associated Press reports.

According to numerous witnesses, Matthew "Scar" Allen was involved in an argument with Combs immediately before the December 1999 shooting that injured three people. Allen never testified at the trial, which ended recently with the acquittal of Combs and the conviction of younger rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow on charges of assault, gun possession, and reckless endangerment.

During a March 14 conference, held out of the jury's presence, prosecutors said that Allen believed Combs was plotting to kill him. The defense said that Allen wanted to kill Combs.

Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman said in the conference that Combs had received a telephone threat at his office from someone who "gave us detailed information concerning a contract on Mr. Combs' life," according to the news service. Brafman further alleged that an associate of Allen's had been at the courthouse, describing Combs' security precautions over a walkie-talkie.

Prosecutor Matthew Bogdanos said in the meeting that Combs tried to bribe Allen to keep him off the witness stand and that a Combs employee had warned Allen that the rapper planned to kill him, according to the AP. Bogdanos said that Allen refused to testify for fear of endangering his relatives.

Brafman denied the allegations, according to the AP.

Combs still faces several civil suits stemming from the incident — though in the wake of his acquittal, his attorneys will move to dismiss them. Barrow, who faces up to 25 years in prison, will be sentenced on April 16.