PUFFY GETS OFF, SHYNE DOESN'T

A New York jury has found Sean "Puffy" Combs not guilty on five charges of criminal possession of a weapon and bribing a witness. But his protege Jamal "Shyne" Barrow was found guilty of two counts of assault as well as reckless endangerment and gun possession, although he was cleared on the most serious charge: attempted murder in the second degree. A collective gasp went up in the SRO courtroom as the jury foreperson read each not-guilty verdict.

The case stemmed from a shooting in Club New York on Dec. 27, 1999, when prosecutors alleged Combs bumped into a patron, sparking a dispute that prompted his rapper associate, 21-year-old Barrow, to fire a gun. The 31-year-old rap entrepreneur faced up to 29 years in prison had he been convicted of bribery and both weapons possession charges.

Combs and his entourage, including actress-singer Jennifer Lopez, made their escape in a Lincoln Navigator that was pulled over by police after a brief chase. A gun was discovered in the car, and Combs was subsequently accused of trying to bribe the driver, Wardel Fenderson, with an offer of $50,000 to claim possession of the weapon. He offered as collateral a diamond pinky ring given to him by Lopez, a charge Combs denied. Fenderson told the jury Combs had put a black handgun into his wastband before heading over to the club that night.

The high-profile case stretched nearly two months, with jurors hearing from 59 witnesses and examining more than 130 pieces of evidence. Combs was the defense's key witness andspent a full day testifying he never carried a weapon on the night of his arrest, thinking instead he was the intended target of the gunfire.

After the verdict, Combs thanked God, his mother and his three attorneys, in that order. Briefly addressing reporters outside the courtroom, he said he felt “grateful,” “emotional” and “blessed.”

“I give all glory to God,” he said. “If it wasn't for God, I wouldn't be able to walk out here and talk to you.” God was not available for comment.

"When people win the Super Bowl, they're on TV saying they're going to Disneyland," said Ben Brafman, co-counsel on Combs' defense team. "I'm going straight to synagogue to thank God."

"The pressure was unbearable through those five not guilties. It was an honor and privilege to represent Sean Combs," said Johnnie Cochran, another member of Puffy's legal squad. "I told him, 'You've got your life back.' Now, do the best with it."

Arista President/CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid, a longtime friend, accepted the decision "with mixed emotions... We are extremely pleased that Sean 'Puffy' Combs is able to return to his productive work at the helm of our highly successful joint venture with Bad Boy Entertainment. At the same time, we feel saddened by the outcome of the trial as it relates to Jamal 'Shyne' Barrow. We extend our warmest thoughts to both men as friends and colleagues, and remain committed to nurturing the spirit of our joint venture with Bad Boy Entertainment, its artists, producers and staff."

More details to follow.