Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering trial had a surprising guest briefly take center stage on Wednesday: a 40-ounce bottle of Olde English 800 malt liquor.
The malt liquor brand has long been a favorite of rappers like the late N.W.A member Eazy-E, who sang its praises in the group's 1987 track "8 Ball" ("O.E. 800 'cause that's my brand/Take it in a bottle, 40, quart or can.") But in federal court, the beverage briefly moved from refreshment to alleged weapon.
Early in the day, Lance Jimenez, an arson investigator for the Los Angeles Fire Department, took the witness stand. He was testifying about the investigation he conducted in early January 2012 into fire damage to Kid Cudi's Porsche.
Other witnesses in the trial have alleged that the car was set fire to intentionally, and that Diddy — though he did not commit the deed directly — was behind it.
"[Diddy] mentioned that...Scott [Mescudi, a.k.a. Kid Cudi]'s car would be blown up," Cassie Ventura said on the stand. "He wanted his friends to be there to see it."
Cudi testified that when Diddy denied being involved, the "Man on the Moon" rapper believed "that he was lying."
Jimenez talked about his investigation, and his belief that the fire was indeed intentionally set. His opinion, he said, was that a hole was cut into the roof of the car, and a Molotov cocktail was dropped inside.
Part of the reason Jimenez formed that opinion was evidence he found at the scene. That included a lighter found near the car, a partially burnt handkerchief found inside it, and a glass bottle found on the driver's seat with liquid inside that was tested and later found to be gasoline.
It was when Jimenez was asked about the bottle that things took a turn.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik introduced a photo of the bottle, and asked Jimenez what kind of glassware it was.
"It's a 40-ounce malt liquor bottle," the investigator said. "Olde English, it looks
like."
You can see the bottle for yourself (with gasoline still inside) below.
