In a dramatic turn of events during Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sentencing hearing, his lawyer, Brian Steel, disclosed harrowing details about the music mogul’s time in custody. Steel revealed that the 55-year-old Combs was “nearly stabbed” by another inmate, leading him to retreat into a state of self-imposed isolation. The lawyer painted a grim picture of Combs’ condition, stating he had been eating “out of bags” and consuming chips throughout the day, indicating severe psychological distress.
Combs, who was convicted in July for orchestrating flights for sexual encounters, including those involving his girlfriends and male sex workers, faces a potential 11-year prison sentence demanded by prosecutors. However, his defense team argued for a much shorter sentence of 14 months, suggesting Combs would be eligible for release by year’s end, given credit for time already served.
A Near-Fatal Encounter in Prison
During the hearing, Steel emphasized the danger Combs faced, recounting the near-stabbing incident. “Sean is not a typical person in custody; everyone knows him,” Steel explained. “It’s a trophy for them, they get recognition if they harm him.” The lawyer further detailed Combs’ suffering, noting that his client had barely slept more than two consecutive hours since his arrest and expressed feelings of hopelessness.
Self-Punishment and Despair
“He eats out of bags, he eats chips all day long,” Steel recounted, illustrating Combs’ despair. “He sometimes would tell me, ‘it’s not worth going on, there’s nothing here, there’s no more hope.’ But his family — he could not again bring suffering on them, that would just be more trauma to them.”
‘A Great Man’ Punishing Himself
Defending Combs’ character, Steel asserted that his client is a “great man,” dismissing negative media portrayals as “wrong.” He stated, “I know Sean personally. He’s a great man who is being sentenced, but he still has done things that I would dream of doing.” Steel concluded by emphasizing that Combs had “punished himself more than anyone will ever be able to punish him,” suggesting the emotional toll would last a lifetime.