Trial Spotlight Moves to Shyne
March 2, 2001 -- NEW YORK — A day after Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs became the star witness in his own trial, the focus shifted today to the most serious charges in the case, as lawyers for rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow began his defense against three counts of attempted murder.
Combs' defense rested Thursday after the rap star took the stand in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, saying there is "absolutely" no truth to the weapons and bribery charges he faces. He insisted that "I was just trying to get away from danger" when shots he thought were meant for him rang out in a Times Square-area nightclub in December 1999.
The defense for Anthony "Wolf" Jones, a Combs bodyguard who is charged with illegal possession of a firearm, rested its case Thursday without calling any witnesses.
Today, the defense opened for Barrow, a Puffy protégé who is accused of firing the shots that wounded three people in Club New York. His lawyers called just one witness before the proceedings closed early for the weekend. David Cubillette, a friend of a former Combs associate, testified he was also at the club during the shooting. Cubillette confirmed he saw two men with guns — Barrow, and one he could not identify.
Barrow's defense is expected to be completed on Monday. The prosecution will likely begin its rebuttal on Tuesday, when it is expected to call Matthew "Scar" Allen. The prosecution alleges Combs got into an argument with Allen that escalated, and then Combs and Barrow began shooting.
'I Thought I Was Being Shot At'
On Thursday, Combs testified that, contrary to what some prosecution witnesses have said, he did not have a gun that night. When he first heard the shots, Combs said, he thought he was the intended target.
"I thought I was being shot at," the star rapper and producer said. "My hands were up. I started to go down. Everybody started falling all over each other."
The founder of the Bad Boy record label and Sean John clothing line gave a vivid description of a festive Sunday night at the nightclub, where he danced on tabletops and treated people to champagne — racking up a $4,000 bar tab. The crowd included rapper Busta Rhymes and members of the New York Knicks, as well as Combs' then-girlfriend, actress and singer Jennifer Lopez.
Combs said when he and Lopez decided to head home, someone mouthed off in his direction. He described the man as being "very, very, very aggressive."
Chaos Breaks Out
Combs testified that in the moments leading up to the shooting, a security guard warned him he didn't need the trouble, and then shots were heard. He said he didn't see anyone with a gun in the club as people started dropping to the ground, including himself.
"I had felt the shots were for me," Combs said. "As fast as I could get down there, I was just trying to get away from danger."
During the chaos, he noticed Lopez running up the stairs in another direction, and he was whisked out of the club by bodyguards, he said. He sent a guard back inside to bring Lopez to their car, he said.
Police said they found a gun in the sport utility vehicle in which Combs and Lopez left the club. Asked whether he had any knowledge that the gun was in the vehicle, Combs repeatedly said, "Absolutely not."
The prosecution alleges the Lincoln Navigator sped away, with Combs encouraging his driver, Wardell Fenderson, to run lights as police chased the vehicle. Combs refuted the description, and maintained he didn't say anything in the car.
Fenderson testified earlier in the trial that Combs, after being arrested, repeatedly pressed him to claim the gun was his. Fenderson said Combs offered him $50,000 — with a diamond ring that had been a present from Lopez as collateral — if he would take the fall.
Under questioning by his attorney, Combs denied making any such suggestion.
Brafman asked, "Did you offer Fenderson $50,000?"
"Absolutely not," Combs said.
"Did you offer him a diamond ring?" Brafman asked.
"Absolutely not," Combs said.
No Rehearsals, Puffy Says
In his cross-examination, Bogdanos repeatedly asked Combs where he was during the shooting incident at Club New York and what he said during the events that followed. At the start of his questioning, Bogdanos suggested Combs was giving a well-rehearsed performance, similar to how he rehearses for a recording session. Combs flatly replied that he never rehearses for jam sessions.
Bogdanos later questioned Combs about any conversations he may have had with Fenderson while they were in a holding cell in the police precinct. Combs conceded they were in close proximity.
Also at the precinct was Lopez, whom Combs described as being noticeably upset. He said he asked the authorities to "please uncuff her," because she had had nothing to do with the incident.
Combs also spoke to the jury of his humble upbringing and later success. Trying to play down his celebrity, the singer and producer said he did not measure his success in terms of wealth, saying simply, "I've been blessed."
Dozens of fans gathered outside the courthouse chanting, "Not guilty." After finishing his testimony, Combs was seen in the seventh-floor hallway, holding a single red rose from an unidentified fan.
Combs is charged with illegal weapons possession and trying to bribe a witness. If convicted, he could be sentenced to as much as 15 years in prison.