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KEY DOCUMENTS
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| THE POLICE |
| Duty Captain's Report |
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Less than 24 hours after the shooting, a police supervisor sent this dispatch about the incident at Club New York to departmental brass. The report explains what the captain's investigators did and why they were at the club in the first place. (Dec. 27, 1999)
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| The Complaint |
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A police detective relates the accounts of three eye witnesses, including one woman who saw a gun in Combs' hand at the time of the shooting. (Dec. 27, 1999)
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| Combs' Belongings |
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According to these police vouchers, Combs was carrying more than $8,200 in cash at the time of his arrest. (Dec. 27, 1999)
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| Barrow's Belongings |
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According to these police vouchers, Jamal "Shyne" Barrow was sporting a red bandana and a Star TAC cell phone when officers nabbed him outside the club. (Dec. 27, 1999)
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| Jones' Belongings |
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According to these police vouchers, bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones was carrying $2,246, cigars and marijuana when he was taken into custody. (Dec. 27, 1999)
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| The SUV |
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When police impounded the Navigator owned by Combs' company, they found a full-length gray fur coat, 15 CDs and a built-in TV screen. (Dec. 27, 1999)
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| Mugshot |
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Officers snapped this shot of Combs' soon after his arrest on weapons possession charges. (Dec. 27, 1999)
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| Ballistics Reports |
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Technicians at the police lab analyze three semiautomatic weapons — one found in Combs' SUV, one found on Eighth Avenue and one found in Barrow's waistband. (Dec. 1999)
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| THE PROSECUTION |
| Grand Jury Testimony |
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In his grand jury testimony, excerpted here, Combs talks about his "beautiful girlfriend," Jennifer Lopez, and the violent deaths of his father and best friend. He also spars with the district lawyer about how he assaulted a music industry executive who made a video Combs deemed sacrilegious. (Jan. 4, 2000)
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| The Indictments |
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Manhattan grand jurors hand down two separate indictments against Combs and his co-defendants. The first concerns the shooting at Club New York, the second the alleged bribery scheme by Wolf and Combs. (Jan. 13, 2000)
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| Bill of Particulars |
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In this bare bones outline of its case, the prosecution claims Combs asked arresting officers "whether Ms. Lopez would be released if anyone claimed ownership of the gun, and whether it was too late for someone to claim ownership of the gun." (Jan. 14, 2000)
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| Response to Defense Motion |
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When Combs' lawyers suggest prosecutor Matthew Bogdanos tainted the grand jury by discussing every one of the rapper's prior bad acts, the prosecutor responds, "Not even close." He then ticks off a list of alleged wrongdoing by Combs, including other instances of gun possession. (April 17, 2000)
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| Gunshot Residue Motion |
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Why doesn't the prosecution want evidence introduced concerning gunshot residue tests performed the night of the shooting? Its argument is outlined here. (Dec. 22, 2000) DENIED
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| Prosecutor Protests Headlines |
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The prosecutor fired off this angry letter to Judge Solomon after Combs took his version of events public just two weeks before jury selection was to start. The state claims that the interview violated a tacit agreement that "the case should be tried in the courtroom and not in the media" and asks for a gag order. (Dec. 22, 2000)
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| A Few Housekeeping Matters |
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The prosecution outlines its position on several issues, and makes a bid to keep the defense from introducing any psychological or scientific evidence at trial. (Dec. 22, 2000)
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| Discovery List |
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A list of evidence the prosecution may use at trial, from fingerprint analysis and medical reports to the testimony of officers on the scene. (Dec. 22, 2000)
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| Who Saw What? |
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This list of club witnesses interviewed by the prosecution includes one woman who says Jennifer Lopez "was in the middle of it and had to see who the shooter was." (Jan. 24, 2001)
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| Scar's Statement |
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Matthew "Scar" Allen, the man who instigated the nightclub fight, wrote this statement during a jailhouse interview with prosecutors. In it, he claims Combs and Barrow fired guns. (Feb. 21, 2001)
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| Phone Records |
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The prosecution introduced as evidence this selective list of phone calls between Combs and his co-defendants. (Feb. 21, 2001)
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| Witness Tampering? |
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These phone records, the last piece of evidence introduced by the prosecution, suggest calls between Combs' camp and witnesses Glen Beck, Cherise Myers and Christopher Chambers. (March 8, 2001)
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| THE DEFENSE |
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Barrow's Affidavit |
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Barrow claims Combs did not have a gun the night of the shooting in this affidavit filed in a failed bid to get the rap mogul a separate trial. (March 29, 2000)
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Jones' Affidavit |
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Combs' bodyguard says the rapper did not have a gun and claims that after the shooting, "we feared that Mr. Combs had been the target of an assassination attempt." (March 29, 2000)
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| Defense Version of the Facts |
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Combs' lawyer lays out the defense version of the facts of the shooting and charges that the prosecution is "desperately trying to use any theory that might work." (March 31, 2001)
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| Memo of Law |
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Combs' lawyer cites case law to argue — unsuccessfully, it turned out — that all counts against Combs should be dropped, or his case should be severed from Barrow's.
(March 31, 2001)
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| Request for Information About Shooting |
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Combs' lawyer asks for more information from the prosecutor about the shooting and hints at what the defense sees as holes in the prosecution's theory of the crime. (March 23, 2000)
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| Request for Information About Bribery |
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Combs' lawyer asks for more information from the prosecutor about the alleged bribery of chauffeur Fenderson and hints at what the defense sees as holes in the prosecution's theory of the crime. (March 23, 2000)
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| Voicemail Transcript |
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According to a defense motion, Combs left this message on Fenderson's answering machine during the time the prosecution alleges he and Jones were trying to bribe the chauffeur. (Dec. 30, 1999)
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| Jones Wants Priors Concealed |
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The prosecution says introducing Jones' rap sheet backs up the chauffeur's bribery claim, but here the bodyguard's lawyer argues that his felony record should stay off the record. (Jan. 22, 2001)
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| Letter Concerning Full Discovery |
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The defense accuses the D.A.'s office of not playing fair, saying it "fail(s) to understand" how the prosecution could take testimony from witnesses at the scene, and then not inform the defense of the interviews under disclosure rules. (Dec 28, 2000)
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| Response to Accusations of Media Manipulation |
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Defense lawyer Brafman responds to allegations from the prosecution that his client tried to use a media interview to curry public favor. The lawyer notes the frequency of media reports detrimental to Combs that cite "unidentified law enforcement sources." (Dec 28, 2000)
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| Combs Statements Are Evidence |
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As Combs was arrested he repeatedly asked officers if his girlfriend would be released if someone else claimed ownership of the gun. The prosecution says his statements are "rank hearsay" and can't be admitted as evidence, but in this letter the defense argues that the jury should hear Combs' words. (Jan 16, 2001)
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| THE COURT |
| Combs' Verdict Sheet |
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Jurors filled out this form in acquitting Combs two counts each of second- and third-degree weapons possession and one count of bribery. (March 16, 2001)
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| Barrow's Verdict Sheet |
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Jurors filled out this form in convicting Jamal "Shyne" Barrow of five counts, including assault. (March 16, 2001)
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Jones' Verdict Sheet |
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Jurors filled out this form in acquitting Anthony "Wolf" Jones of two weapons charges and one bribery charge. (March 16, 2001)
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| Publicity Questionnaire |
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Potential jurors were asked these questions about their knowledge of the case based on media reports.
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| Standard Jury Questionnaire |
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Prospective jurors who passed the publicity screening process were then asked these questions about their backgrounds by Judge Charles Solomon. (Jan. 24, 2001)
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| Gag Order |
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Judge Charles Solomon, saying he feared pretrial publicity might taint the jury pool, prohibits lawyers and defendants from discussing the facts of the case outside his courtroom. (Jan. 5, 2001)
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Ruling on Combs' Motions |
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Judge Solomon rejects an attempt to void the indictments levied by the grand jury and then shoots down several other motions made by the defense. (May 16, 2000)
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Ruling on Barrow's Motions |
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Barrow won't get a separate trial from his mentor Combs. Judge Solomon rules that he has "failed to establish good cause for granting a severance." (May 16, 2000)
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Ruling on Jones' Motions |
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Jones also wanted a separate trial, arguing that he might be prejudiced by statements made by Combs to the grand jury. Judge Solomon rules against him. (May 16, 2000)
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| SHYNE'S SENTENCING |
| Barrow's Statement |
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Before he was sentenced to 10 years, Jamal "Shyne" Barrow apologized to Natania Reuben for her injuries but insisted he never meant to harm anyone and was merely acting in self-defense. (June 1, 2001)
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| Natania Reuben's Statement |
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Reuben, who was shot in the face during the nightclub shootout, attacked the kind of "gangsta rap" Barrow performs, saying she felt that "raunchy lyrics that tell our children to bust their guns in the air" were equivalent to giving children "spoons of arsenic." (June 1, 2001)
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| Judge's Statement |
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Judge Charles Solomon, not heavily swayed by either side's arguments, chose to give Barrow 10 years of a possible 32. (June 1, 2001)
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| CIVIL ACTIONS |
| Club Owner's Suit |
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The owner of Club New York claims the shooting ruined his name and business in this $1.8 million suit. (Oct. 11, 2000)
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| Chauffeur's Suit |
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In this $3 million suit, Wardel Fenderson hints at what happened inside the Navigator as it sped away from Club New York (Oct. 11, 2000)
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| Victim Natania Reuben's Suit |
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The most seriously injured gunshot victim, Reuben was shot in the nose and in this suit, asks for $150 million. (March 31, 2000)
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| Victim Julius Jones' Suit |
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Jones claims to have become "sick, sore, lame and disabled" after being shot. He names eight defendants, and asks them each for $100 million (Dec. 30, 2001)
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| Victim Robert Thompson's Suit |
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In this suit, the victim claims that Combs drew a gun during the altercation, but that Barrow fired the shots. (Jan. 7, 2000)
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Rap mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs faced 15 years in prison for weapons charges and bribery stemming from a 1999 nightclub shooting.
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Combs' Mugshot
Police officers snapped this photo after the music executive was booked on weapons charges
Grand
Jury Testimony
Combs talks about "beautiful
girlfriend" Jennifer Lopez and
the violent deaths of his father
and best friend while testifying
before the grand jury
Duty Captain's Report
Police report explains what
investigators did and why they
were at Club New York
Scar's Statement
The man who started the fight
claims in this handwritten statement
that Combs had a gun.
Barrow's Affidavit
Barrow claims in this sworn statement that Combs did not have a gun the night of the shooting
Jones' Affidavit
Combs' bodyguard says the rapper did not have a gun and was believed to be an assassin's target
Chauffeur's Suit
In this $3 million suit, Wardel Fenderson hints at what went on inside the Navigator as it sped away from Club New York
Phone Records
The prosecution introduced these summaries of calls between Combs' lines and other key players in the case
Chauffeur's Suit
In this $3 million suit, Wardel Fenderson hints at what went on inside the Navigator as it sped away from Club New York
Combs' Verdict Form
The jurors filled out this sheet to acquit the rap mogul.
Barrow's Verdict Form
The jurors found the young rapper guilty on five counts, including assault.
More Documents
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