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Jury set to deliberate in Puffy Combs trial

Combs is on trial for bribery and gun possession

From CNN Correspondent Michael Okwu

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A Manhattan prosecutor argued Tuesday evidence shows rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs was carrying a weapon and fired it the night of a night club shooting in 1999.

In closing arguments, assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos told jurors, "This is not the Puffy trial. It's not the Jennifer Lopez trial. We forget ... it's about three people who got shot in a club."

Combs and bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones are charged with gun possession and bribery in connection with the December 27, 1999 shooting at Club New York that left three people wounded. Neither is charged with shooting anyone.

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Another co-defendant, rapper Jamaal "Shyne" Barrow, is charged with attempted murder and assault.

The trial, heard by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Charles Solomon, was expected to go to the jury later Tuesday. Jurors showed up with suitcases and other bags, indicating they are ready for sequestered deliberations.

Laying out guns on the railing of the jury box, Bogdanos said a gun found on a Manhattan street that night and another 9mm pistol found in Combs' Lincoln Navigator are so similar they had to belong to the same person -- Puffy Combs.

Bogdanos said the two guns were the same model, had the same finish, carried the same amount of rounds in their chambers, and had both been fired.

Bogdanos said there was "a 99 million to one chance" that guns so similar could be found at random.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Combs tossed one of the guns out of his Lincoln Navigator during a police chase. They said Combs later offered his driver, Wardel Fenderson, $50,000 to say that the second gun -- belonging to Combs and found under a seat in the Navigator -- belonged to him.

Combs' attorneys have said the gun found on the street has nothing to do with Combs, and they deny that Combs tried to bribe Fenderson.

Combs, who was with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, has denied having a gun with him or firing a gun inside the nightclub that night.

But Bogdanos said that the testimony of several witnesses could lead to no other conclusion but that Combs fired a gun that night.

Several witnesses testified they saw Combs brandishing guns. And Bogdanos said the testimony of forensic experts about the trajectory of a bullet dug from the night club's ceiling shows it had to have been fired from where Combs was standing.

On Monday, an attorney for Barrow admitted he fired a gun inside the club but said he was in fear of his life. Defense attorneys for Combs and Jones attacked the testimony of Fenderson he was seeking millions of dollars from the two in a civil suit he filed.

Lopez was not charged in the case.

Witness says he saw Combs fire gun in club
March 7, 2001
Witness for Puffy's co-defendant says he saw gun, can't ID holder
March 2, 2001
Defense rests in Puffy Combs trial
March 1, 2001
Prosecutor says Puffy violated gag order
February 28, 2001
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

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