Entertainment

J.Lo Won't Testify In 'Puffy' Trial

January 29, 2001 / 11:43 AM EST / CBS/AP

Jennifer Lopez said she will not testify in the weapons trial of former boyfriend Sean "Puffy" Combs.

"As Sean will testify on his own behalf, he and his lawyers have decided at this time it is not necessary for me to testify at the trial," she said in a statement released late Tuesday by Combs' publicist and confirmed by Lopez spokesman Alan Nievob.

"I have told Sean that if he and his lawyers change their minds and require me to testify I will be there immediately to tell the truth," said Lopez, the star of The Wedding Planner and the voice on the No. 1 album, J.Lo.

The rap mogul issued a statement through a publicist confirming that since he intends "to testify on my own behalf, I feel it is no longer necessary for Jennifer to be involved."

Experts had said the media frenzy a court appearance by the 30-year-old music and movie star could incite may not be worth the trouble for Combs.

"I don't mean to sound like an old fogey, but much of the thinking behind whether she testifies depends on what she has to say," veteran defense attorney Ron Kuby said.

Puffy Fights For Name, Freedom

Facing up to 15 years in jail on gun possession and bribery charges, Sean "Puffy" Combs has grown anxious about his reputation, his family and his future.

For the defense, the advantage of calling Lopez was clear: She's perhaps the most popular star in the country right now, and the appearance of such a witness could bolster Combs' standing with the jury.

On the downside, trial testimony shows Lopez was nowhere near Combs when a gunfire-punctuated melee began inside Club New York on Dec. 27, 1999. She would be unable to say whether Combs pulled a weapon there, as several prosecution witnesses have testified.

Defense witnesses have contradicted those claims.

There was also the risk of alienating the jurors by turning the courtroom into a circus rather than focusing on the case against Combs. After all, though Lopez testified before an investigative grand jury panel, it indicted Combs anyway.

Combs, 31, and his bodyguard, Anthony "Wolf" Jones, 34, are charged with two counts of gun possession. A third suspect, Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, 21, is charged with three counts of attempted murder for allegedly shooting three club patrons during the fracas.

Combs is also harged with bribery for allegedly offering his driver $50,000 to take the gun rap for him. Collateral for the alleged bribe was a diamond ring that Lopez had given Combs as a present, prosecutors said.

The pair released a statement on Valentine's Day that they had split up.