THE SHOT HEARD ’ROUND THE CLUB
According to the New York Daily News, the witness is the sole person to come forward and say Puff Daddy fired a shot into the air during the December 1999 melee at a New York nightclub. At least two other witnesses claimed Puffy was armed.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Jan. 17 with the trial commencing immediately after.
A Manhattan Supreme Court is expected to rule today or Thursday (1/11) if jurors will learn there is no scientific evidence that Puffy was armed. While police tested Puff and his sidekick, rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, for gunpowder residue after their arrest, the test kits were never processed. Prosecutors claim the tests are "are unreliable, irrelevant, potentially misleading and probative of nothing," yet the defense team maintains not processing the tests proves there is no forensic evidence against Combs. Police say none of the shell casings found at the club were from the stolen 9mm guns Combs is accused of possessing.
Three people were injured during the scuffle. Shyne is facing attempted murder charges for his alleged involvement, while Puff bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones faces weapons charges.
One witness, Natania Reuben, has filed a $150 million damage suit against the rap mogul, claiming injuries she sustained during the incident forced her to give up her Brooklyn beauty salon business. Reubens told the New York Daily News: "Puffy had a gun and my life is now changed forever."
Meanwhile, MTV plans to air an episode of "The People's Court," in which Reubens sued her landlord and lost.
The episode was taped three weeks prior to the nightclub shooting.
