Driver Testifies Puffy Tried to Bribe Him
N E W Y O R K, Feb. 16, 2001 -- Sean "Puffy" Combs, fearing for the reputationof then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, tried "easily over a dozentimes" to get his driver to admit ownership of a handgun foundinside the rap mogul's Lincoln Navigator following a nightclubshooting, the driver testified today.
Wardell Fenderson, 42, a key prosecution witness, testified fora second day in the trial of Combs and two others.
"The plan was for me to hurry my admission so that all of themcould be released," Fenderson said. "He didn't want JenniferLopez to be hurt by this." Lopez is not charged with anything.
Combs and his bodyguard, Anthony "Wolf" Jones, 34, are chargedwith two counts of gun possession — one for a weapon found in theNavigator, the second for a gun allegedly flung from the SUV'swindow as police pursued Combs' car. Rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrowis charged with attempted murder.
The charges are a result of a shooting in the early morninghours of Dec. 27, 1999, when Combs, Lopez and Barrow visited Club New York just off Times Square.
Fenderson Agreed to Lie to Police
Combs also is charged with bribery for allegedly offeringFenderson, his driver, $50,000 to take the gun rap for him.Fenderson, who first detailed Thursday how Combs allegedly made theoffer "easily over a dozen times" as they stood inside aManhattan police precinct, was asked about it again undercross-examination on Friday.
"It was repeated constantly; it was a verbal assault, a verbalbarrage," said Fenderson, who admitted he knew he was breaking thelaw by accepting the offer.
"I knew that. Absolutely," he said.
Fenderson explained that he agreed to lie to police and acceptan alleged bribe, in part because he thought $50,000 was a goodamount of money for a day's work.
"I was not in a rational state of mind," Fenderson said. "Iwas a deer in headlights; I didn't know which way to go.… They took advantage of a man who was not in his right state of mind."
Fenderson Has Separate Lawsuit
On cross-examination by defense attorney Benjamin Brafman,Fenderson admitted there was a $32,000 lien against his salarybecause of his failure to pay child support.
Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos asked Fendersonwhere Lopez was when he was being urged to take the gun rap. "Shelooked like she also was in a state of shock," Fenderson said.
He said that despite initially agreeing to admit ownership ofthe gun, by the time he left the precinct after his arrest, he knewhe was going to reneg on the deal. He said he went to Combs' ParkAvenue home on Dec. 29, 1999, and told him he was backing out. Thetwo never spoke again, Fenderson said.
All charges were dismissed Feb. 14, 2000, against Fenderson, whohas received immunity from prosecutors in exchange for histestimony in the case. He also said he has filed a $3 millionlawsuit against Combs.