Diddy's legal team vows to appeal, claiming the judge acted as a 13th juror...
From ABC News
After their client received a sentence four times as long as they requested, Sean "Diddy" Combs’ lawyers are arguing the judge is punishing the rap mogul for crimes he’s innocent of.
In exclusive interviews with two key members of Combs’ defense team, his lawyers told ABC News on Friday that they are considering appealing the case and argued that Combs is being unjustly punished.
"The jury made it very clear in their verdict that they acquitted him of the six trafficking and the RICO counts," said lead attorney Teny Geragos. "Not guilty means not guilty."
Combs was sentenced to over four years in prison for his conviction on two prastitution-related offenses. He will get credit for the 12 months he's already served, as well as be fined $500,000.
Combs’ lawyers have said that their appeal will center on the argument that the judge unfairly considered conduct for which Combs was acquitted. By finding Combs not guilty of six trafficking, the lawyers said, the jury concluded that Combs did not use force or coercion on his victims.
"That was totally inconsistent with the jury verdict. The Judge acted as a 13th juror," said attorney Alexandra Shapiro, who will lead Combs’ appeal. "The sentence was driven by the conduct the jury rejected. The jury acquitted Mr. Combs of any coercion."
When announcing Combs' sentence, Judge Arun Subramanian emphasized the repeated nature of Combs’ crimes and violence towards his former partners.
"The court is not assured that if released, these crimes would not be committed again,” the judge said. Subramanian said his sentence should hopefully send a message to other survivors of domestic abuse that "violence against women is met with real accountability."
