Key Witness Absence Stalls Diddy Prosecution, Trial Faces Delays

As opening statements in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking trial are slated to begin Monday, both the defense and prosecution have encountered several obstacles.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey, the prosecution has lost contact with Victim 3 and is unable to locate her.

"The disappearance of a key victim at trial is crippling for the prosecution," attorney John J. Perlstein told Fox News Digital. "I doubt it impacts other counts; however, it will severely impact the one relating to the AWOL victim. A lot of times, people reconsider wanting to be involved in such a high-profile matter. Good prosecutors will adapt and, hopefully, their case is not dependent on the cooperation of one person."

Witness no-shows "add stress" to any trial, and individuals can become unresponsive for a variety of reasons, said Judie Saunders, partner at NYC-based ASK LLP.

"If this witness doesn’t show, that’s a problem," entertainment lawyer Tre Lovell explained to Fox News Digital. "One of the biggest questions in this prosecution is the small number of victim-witnesses in light of all the civil lawsuits and ‘victims’ out there.

"To have only three to four actual victims testifying against allegations of two decades-long criminality is telling. Although the government will have other witnesses to testify (i.e. staff workers, Diddy associates, people that were part of his entourage), the victims will be the most compelling and important people on the stand."

Diddy faces charges of racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution, as outlined in a federal indictment unsealed on Sept. 17. He has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face a minimum of 15 years in prison or a maximum of life imprisonment.

Prosecutors allege Diddy operated a criminal enterprise through his companies, including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises, and Combs Global, among others. According to authorities, he used "firearms, threats of violence, coercion and verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse" to satisfy his sexual desires.

Diddy witness missing - Fox News