Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyer has quit the music producer’s criminal sex-trafficking case, just weeks before it was due to begin.
Anthony Ricco filed the surprise motion to withdraw as one of Diddy’s planned six defence attorneys, saying “under no circumstances can I continue”.
Combs, 55, has been accused of trafficking three women and is awaiting trial in New York on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering – which he denies – on May 5.
But who is Anthony Ricco? And what is the reason he has controversially quit just weeks before the highly publicised case was set to start?
Here is what we know.
Who is Anthony Ricco?
Born and raised in Harlem, New York – just like Sean Coombs – he worked hard through school to become a lawyer.
He graduated from Adelphi University with a BA in political science in May 1978, and then from Northeastern University School of Law (NUSL) in May 1981.
Since passing the bar, the lawyer has represented those from marginalised communities. He has also been a lawyer on a number of high-profile cases.
He has a particular interest in death-penalty cases and Mr Ricco lectures on the subject, and promotes the need to advocate for people to be allowed to live.
In 2004, the New York County Lawyers Association, Criminal Defense Division awarded Mr Ricco with the Outstanding Contribution to the Profession award.
While, in 2012, he was recognised again when the the New York State Bar Association honoured him with its Outstanding Criminal Defense Attorney Award.
What cases has Anthony Ricco worked on?
He specialises in state and federal court hearings and stats show he has worked as the lead counsel on 45 death-penalty cases during his career.
In some of these cases, he has even managed to save the lives of his clients.
One, Andre Cooper, when aged between 17 and 23, was an active member of a gang known as the ‘Boyle Street Boys’. He was found guilty of numerous counts – including murder, conspiracy to murder, tampering with witnesses, drug dealing and possession of a gun.
Mr Ricco, as his defence lawyer, managed to get his sentence commuted to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.
The lawyer also defended Jelani Soloman, who was accused of drug and murder charges, and successfully argued for a life sentence instead of the death penalty in her case as well.
More infamously, Mr Ricco has represented well-known terrorists in his role.
He served as a counsel on the World Trade Center bombing conspiracy cases regarding Omar Abdel Rahman and Osama Bin Laden. In 2001, he defended Bin Laden, saying the terrorist shouldn’t be prosecuted as he was unable to defend himself properly as he was not in the US at the time.
Mr Ricco defended Bin Laden's associates, including Mohamed Odeh, who was convicted of plotting bomb attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Mr Ricco's defence helped Odeh avoid the death penalty and receive a life sentence instead.
Previously, he said of the organisation: “Having knowledge someone is in al-Qaeda is not a criminal act. Many members of al-Qaeda are not involved in criminal activity.”
He was also counsel for Detective Gescard Isnora in the controversial Sean Bell case, the man who was shot and killed by undercover New York City Police Department officers in the borough of Queens in 2006.
In April 2008, the three detectives involved in the shooting, including Det Isnora, were found not guilty on all charges. The verdict led to further protests and debates about police accountability, racial profiling, and the use of deadly force by law enforcement.
Why has he refused to represent Diddy now?
Client privilege, which prevents him from revealing details of what Diddy has told him, mean the public will never hear the full reason behind him pulling out.
Mr Ricco told the court in New York: “Although I have provided Sean Combs with the high level of legal representation expected by the court, under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs.
"There are sufficient reasons (related to the protections afforded by the attorney/client privilege) for brevity in my application for withdrawal as counsel in this case.”
The lawyer said his decision to leave would not delay Combs’ case and the trial can move forward in May.
Is Anthony Ricco officially off Diddy’s case?
Mr Ricco is still officially representing Diddy – for now. The lawyer will be retained until a judge greenlights the bid. A judge will only approve the request if there is a sufficiently valid reason.
It remains unclear how long it will take the judge to make a final decision, given the recent filing. However, it is expected that Mr Ricco will no longer serve as one of Diddy’s lawyers.
