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Puffy takes stand; denies having gun or offering bribe

Combs arrives at court Thursday morning.

From CNN Correspondent Michael Okwu

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Rap star Sean "Puffy" Combs took the stand in his own defense for the first time Thursday, denying charges he possessed a gun or tried to bribe his driver on the night of a shooting at Manhattan night club.

Combs disputed testimony by the driver, Wardell Fenderson, that Combs and his bodyguard, Anthony "Wolf" Jones, offered Fenderson $50,000, and tried to force him to accept a diamond ring as collateral until Combs could get him the money.

"I did not promise him any money. I did not offer him a ring for anything of any kind," Combs said.

Three people were injured in the December 27, 1999 incident at Club New York. Combs, 31, and Jones, 34, are charged with gun possession and bribery in connection with the shooting. If convicted, each faces up to 15 years in prison.

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Under questioning from his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, Combs said he was with three security guards who were licensed to carry weapons. The testimony appeared designed to support the defense attorney's argument that someone else might have been carrying a gun that witnesses said Combs had carried and fired in the club.

Combs said he spent much of that night with his then-girlfriend, singer Jennifer Lopez, and dancing atop a table in the club's VIP area, often raising both his hands in a "celebratory" fashion and passing out champagne.

"I was in a festive mood. I was going away the next day, and I was happy to be with Jennifer," Combs testified.

Combs also denied that anyone threw money at him, contradicting testimony from prosecution witnesses that someone had thrown money at Combs, sparking the scuffle that led to the shooting.

Combs said he heard about four shots and believed someone was trying to shoot him. He said he next heard his bodyguards shouting, "Get Puffy out of here! Get Puffy out of here!"

Combs denied saying anything to the driver. Fenderson had testified Combs and the bodyguard had told him to elude police and to "open the stash," one of two secret compartments in their Lincoln Navigator, in order to conceal a gun later found by police on the front passenger seat.

Combs also said he never opened a window in the Navigator, contradicting testimony that he opened a window and threw out a gun that was later found in the street.

"I was looking at Jennifer," Combs testified. "I was shocked."

The judge in the case, Charles Solomon, did not rule on a prosecution motion to find Combs in contempt of court for issuing a statement saying he intended to testify in his trial and believed Lopez didn't need to testify.

On Wednesday, however, he admonished everyone involved in Combs' trial on weapons possession charges not to talk to the media.

"What Combs did last night was disregard the court's order not to speak to the press," prosecutor Matthew Bogdanos said Wednesday, asking the judge to hold Combs in contempt for 30 days.

Combs' attorney, Ben Brafman, told the court he had advised Combs the rapper could issue the statement because he believed it did not violate Solomon's gag order.

Brafman left open the possibility that Lopez could be called to the stand once Combs is finished.

"It's always been a possibility," said Brafman. He said the defense hopes to rest its case by Friday.

Defense witnesses say they did not see Combs with gun
February 22, 2001
Driver testifies he saw Puffy with gun
February 15, 2001
Driver says Puffy could not open secret safe
February 14, 2001
Prosecution witness says gun was found in Combs' vehicle
February 8, 2001
Witness says he saw Combs with a gun
February 7, 2001
Opening statements begin in Sean 'Puffy' Combs trial
January 29, 2001

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Jennifer Lopez
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