Three months ago, Sean Diddy Combs fell to his knees in a Manhattan courtroom after a New York jury acquitted him of charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
I'm coming home, he said, turning around to face his family, who had supported him every day of the trial.
On Friday, a subdued version of the hip-hop mogul sat emotionless and still in his chair, as the judge sentenced him to over four years in prison.
After Judge Arun Subramanian finished reading his sentence, the rapper turned around to look at his family and appeared to mouth the words: I love you, I'm sorry. It was a quiet moment that marked the end of a chaotic eight-week trial that forever altered the public's image of Combs - once one of the world's most famous rappers. The jury saw graphic videos of Combs' so-called freak offs - sex parties he had filmed featuring hired male escorts and his ex Cassandra Ventura and Jane, an anonymous victim. They also saw a video, which had previously gone viral, of him beating Ventura in a hotel hallway.
In July, a panel of 12 New Yorkers acquitted Combs, 55, of sex trafficking and racketeering charges - which carried the potential of life in prison - but found him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.
His attorneys hoped he would be out of prison in a matter of weeks, asking the court for a sentence of 14 months, 13 of which he had already served. Prosecutors had accused Combs of running a criminal enterprise to coerce women into unwanted and drug-fuelled sex acts. They requested a sentence of over 11 years in prison.
Ultimately, Judge Subramanian told a downcast Combs that his crimes and abuse of his ex-girlfriends warranted 50 months in prison. As he recounted how Combs had used his fame and power to subjugate his victims, the music mogul did not look up.
During the hearing, the court listened to speeches from Combs's family, attorneys, and advocates. The judge noted the serious nature of Combs' actions while also acknowledging his family ties, ultimately imposing a significant sentence for his offenses.
In his emotional address to the court, Combs expressed his regret and a plea for mercy, acknowledging his failures and the hurt caused to his family and victims. The courtroom witnessed a tearful farewell as his children shared their need for their father amidst a backdrop of painful memories and a complex legacy.
