Big Picture: Puffy case goes to the jury
Rap mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs
March 14, 2001
Web posted at: 5:46 p.m. EST (2246 GMT)
TOPLINE: The case about Sean "Puffy" Combs, one of the biggest names in hip-hop music, is in the hands of the jury. Combs faces weapons and bribery charges stemming from a New York nightclub shooting on December 27, 1999, that left three people injured. The 31-year-old faces 15 years behind bars if convicted.
IN CONTEXT: Combs and his girlfriend at the time, actress-singer Jennifer Lopez, were inside a nightclub called Club New York when a fight broke out and shots were fired. They fled in Combs' sports utility vehicle, which ran 11 red lights before being stopped by police, who found a loaded gun inside.
Combs is on trial along with his protege Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, who is charged with attempted murder and gun possession, and his bodyguard, Anthony "Wolf" Jones, who faces gun possession and bribery charges.
At the police station, Combs allegedly offered his driver, Wardel "Woody" Fenderson, $50,000 to say the gun was his. Combs denies the charges. According to the prosecution, a second gun was thrown from the getaway car as police closed in.
Fenderson, the chauffer, has a $3 million civil suit against Combs, claiming emotional distress stemming from the events on the night of December 27, 1999.
KEY QUESTIONS:
- Did Combs fire a gun into the air at the night club?
- Did the gun in the car belong to Combs?
- Did Barrow fire a gun in self-defense?
- Did Combs and Jones try to bribe Fenderson into saying the 9 mm gun found in the car was his?
- Is Fenderson a credible witness?
KEY PLAYERS:
- Sean "Puffy" Combs: The 31-year-old hip-hop mogul has created a business empire around rap music. His record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, brings in between $40 million and $60 million a year and his Sean John clothing line brings in about $100 million. Combs also owns two restaurants and is considering branching out into movies.
According to badboyonline.com: Combs was born in the Harlem section of New York City. His father was murdered when Combs was a toddler. His mother moved her son and daughter to Mount Vernon, New York, when Combs was 12. He reportedly earned his nickname as a high school football player because he "puffed" out his chest to make himself look bigger. He attended Howard University but dropped out after a year to intern for a record label. He founded Bad Boy Records and built it into a leading rap music label by signing artists such as Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Craig Mack and Notorious B.I.G. Combs lives in Manhattan.
- Jennifer Lopez: The 30-year-old singer-actress was detained by police in connection with the club shooting, but was not charged and was not called as a witness in the trial. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, she rose to stardom in the movie "Selena," the story of the slain Tejana singer. Her singing career took off with her first album, "On the 6." Her romance with Combs began in 1998. On Valentine's Day, during the second month of the trial, the couple announced their romance was over.
- Jamal "Shyne" Barrow: He came to fame largely as Combs' co-defendant, but the 22-year-old rapper's career was about to take off when the nightclub shooting occurred.
- Anthony "Wolf" Jones: Employed by Bad Boy Entertainment as a personal assistant and occasional bodyguard to Combs, according to Court TV online. Jones is 35 and lives in the Bronx.
- Wardel "Woody" Fenderson: The driver of Combs' Lincoln Navigator the night of the shootings at Club New York is the state's key witness. According to Court TV online, in 1999, the 42-year-old driver was working part-time as Combs' weekend chauffeur to supplement the income he made driving an investment banker and his family during the week. After the shooting, he reportedly lost both jobs and filed a $3 million suit against Combs.
- Matthew Bogdanos: Senior assistant district attorney in Manhattan received his law degree from Columbia University. He has been practicing since 1984. Bogdanos prosecuted another high-profile defendant, so-called "Baby-Faced Butcher" Christopher Vasquez, a 16-year-old convicted of manslaughter in the 1997 Central Park stabbing of a real estate broker.
- Benjamin Brafman: Combs' defense attorney, along with Johnnie Cochran. Other high profile defendants he has represented include sportscaster Marv Albert, nightclub owner Peter Gatien, and Sammy "The Bull" Gravano. New York Magazine named him the city's top criminal defense lawyer in 1997.
- Johnnie Cochran: Combs' defense attorney, along with Brafman. Cochran gained national recognition by defending O.J. Simpson. Before that, he was a successful civil attorney in Los Angeles, California, known for winning several police brutality and misconduct decisions. He has been a Court TV anchor and continues to practice law.
BOTTOM LINE:
- Jury deliberations began March 14. A quick verdict is not expected, given the number of defendants and the individual charges against them.