No cameras or TV cameras are allowed when the trial against the hip-hop mogul begins in earnest with the opening statements. Several major American news media will still be present and will report live in writing from the trial.
In drawings from the court last week, when Combs appeared as the jury was being selected, he was seen with gray hair and a beard - hair dye is not allowed in the Brooklyn prison where he has been since September last year.
I apologize, I'm a little nervous today, he said when he was forced to take a break for a toilet visit.
Last week, the jurors were selected. The jury now consists of people between 20 and 70 years old, representing different parts of society. One juror, for example, is a graphic designer, another works with counter-terrorism at the UN.
The last juror is expected to be selected on Monday morning local time, and then the opening statements will start, which means that the trial will enter a new phase.
The 55-year-old Combs is accused by over 120 people of, among other things, rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, assault, blackmail, and sex trade. According to the indictment, he allegedly committed offenses against both women and a couple of boys during a period spanning two decades, in connection with so-called "freak-offs" - parties with drugs and sexual elements.
He himself denies the crimes but has admitted to being violent during the incident that was caught on film in 2016, when he assaulted his then-girlfriend.
If he is convicted, he risks life imprisonment.
